https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news.atomMarmalade Books - News2018-11-06T15:41:00-08:00Marmalade Bookshttps://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-children-s-author-editor-ann-featherstone2018-11-06T15:41:00-08:002018-11-09T14:40:41-08:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR/EDITOR ANN FEATHERSTONEPatricia Oldroyd
Ann Featherstone is the senior editor at Canadian publisher Pajama Press. She also happens to be my sister. And as her sister, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature her wonderful new book,A World of Kindnessin our October Picture Book Box as well as interview her for our blog.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): We both got our start in the children’s book business working at Munro’s Books, one of the leading independent bookstores in Canada. How did you transition to being a children’s book editor?

Ann Featherstone is the senior editor at Canadian publisher Pajama Press. She also happens to be my sister. And as her sister, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature her wonderful new book, A World of Kindness in our October Picture Book Box as well as interview her for our blog.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): We both got our start in the children’s book business working at Munro’s Books, one of the leading independent bookstores in Canada. How did you transition to being a children’s book editor?

ANN FEATHERSTONE (AF): I was approached by an emerging publisher in Victoria. He often came into the bookstore for advice, and in 1990 when he offered me a job as managing editor, I decided to take the leap. I spent ten years shaping the children's program at Orca Book Publishers, and I'm proud of that. But I had to teach myself to be an editor in those days; I was on my own. So there were times when the experience was humbling. I had a degree in English Literature, which helped quite a bit, but the learning curve was pretty steep at first.

MB: Can you tell us the story of how this lovely book came to be?

AF: The publisher, Gail Winskill, has a precocious granddaughter, who was just entering Grade One. She soon had her first negative experience with another student who was mean to her, and her mother counciled kindness in response. But it wasn't until she asked her grandmother how to be kind that Gail thought it was time for Pajama Press to do something on the subject. So the publisher, managing editor Erin Alladin and I discussed the approach we wanted to take. And early on, we decided we didn't want to tell a story. Instead, we wanted to show children images that they could use to tell their own stories about what kindness means. After some research by our managing editor, and more discussions, I took all Erin's work and distilled the text into a series of questions. These questions are quite simple at first; it's easy, for instance, to say please and thank you. But later on, the questions are a bit harder. How easy is it to share something that is important to you, like your first bicycle? While Erin and I went back and forth on the text, Gail approached our Pajama Press illustrators to obtain images from our books that would work on every spread. Some of them did original work and donated it to the project, which was really lovely of them. The royalties for this book will be donated to Think Kindness, an organization that promotes school and community programs that focus on kindness.

MB: What does an editor do?

AF: First, acquisitions. I go through stacks of submissions (around 1,800 received last year—I am a fast reader), consider what I think may work for our program, and show it to the publisher and defend it as a possibility for our list. Then, substantive editing. Once a book is under contract, I reread the story and point out all the areas that need improvement: character development, point of view of the narration, story arc, pacing, thematic development, general syntax that will need attention, minor plotlines that are not resolved. Sometimes this work is partially done in general notes I send the author in advance of the contract, so the author can decide if she or he agrees and can assure us that they see the same vision for their story and are willing to put in the extra work. Then I move on to the copy edit. I go through the new version of the story line-by-line, look for problems in sentence structure, word repetitions (everybody has favourite words they use over and over) that need to be addressed, too many run-on sentences, word choices that affects tone, too many exclamation marks, that sort of thing. And of course I must standardize spelling and form (for example, the narrator cannot write "okay" on one page and "ok" on another). Then, once the author and I are happy, the text goes to the designer for typesetting. Then I consult with the publisher and designer on the cover concept. While the designer is working, I create a style guide, which informs a proofer for instance that we want to see the word "t-shirt" rather than "T-shirt," etc. So I create a spelling list of frequently used words in the text. Also, we have house-style rules that the proofer needs to know in order to proof the typeset text. Once this is done, I look at the proofer's results, throw out anything that I think is just too picky (even though I prefer them to be picky!), and pass it back to the author so they can weigh in with any objections they might have. I send the changes to the designer and supervise the corrections to make sure nothing has been missed.

In the case of picture books, I do roughly the same thing as above, but then I also work with the publisher and designer on art direction. My job here is to make sure that the author's vision is retained in the artwork, that the planned art will bring added value to the story rather than simply illustrate the mechanics of the story. So sometimes we will discuss visual subtexts that an illustrator can add to a project (as in a lighthearted story when pets appear in the background and fool around, even though they aren't part of the story. Or in a more serious story, when an artist adds visual elements that reinforce the theme, like weather that mirrors the emotional state of the main character). Sometimes, when the art is detailed, I make a decision to go back to the author to point out where areas of text may no longer be necessary, like when a text points out that someone is wearing a blue shirt (if we are going to see a blue shirt, does the text need to say it anymore?). And I keep checking the process, from rough drawings to detailed drawings to finished artwork, comparing the story to the art to make sure there is no disconnect between the text and the illustrations.

MB: You’ve worked with many wonderful Canadian children’s authors and illustrators over the years and the books that you’ve helped come to life have won many awards. I won’t put you on the spot by asking who was the best to work with (and who wasn’t), but do you have a favourite book that you were involved with?

AF: Come on, Pat! You know this is like asking me which of my kids I love best! But like parenting, sometimes it is the problem child you have the most feeling for because you invested so heavily in them. And when they turn out well, you are so proud. One of Orca's earliest picture books, Waiting for the Whales gained me a cherished friend in (author) Sheryl McFarlane. At that time, I was pretty new to editing picture books, but I knew vaguely what I wanted, and Sheryl had the kernel of a story that was so beautiful and moving. But I kept pushing and pushing for changes to improve it. Poor Sheryl wrote, I think, nine drafts of that story until we were both satisfied it was perfect. And it was. We wouldn't change a word of it. It won the Governor General's Award for Illustration—and you don't get nominated for a poor story that just happens to be beautifully illustrated. Ron Lightburn's art in it is fabulous. That book cemented Orca Book Publisher's reputation as a children's publisher across the country, not only on the West Coast.

Just last year, I edited Sherri Green's middle-grade novel Missing Mike. She is a dream of a writer, but something was missing in the story for me. I kept mulling it over until it hit me. Mike, our heroine's beloved dog, goes missing early in the book when the family is suddenly evacuated because of a wildfire. I just didn't know Mike as well as Cara the heroine did, it was hard to strongly identify with her pain and determination to find him again. I talked to Sherri, who is also a really generous person. And she took my suggestions on faith. She agreed to add some flashbacks that took us to the shelter when Cara first insists on choosing Mike. Then Sherri added little scenes when Cara and Mike slowly begin to bond. So now we really knew Mike as well as Cara did. By the time I reread Sherri's third draft, I kept tearing up. Every edit drove me crazy because I knew I was about to get to those spots in the story when I would start crying again. But I felt as if I were losing Mike every time I worked on that story. I won't tell you the ending, but you will cry happy tears, I promise.

MB: Okay, maybe I should put you on the spot. How about a juicy story from one of the projects you were involved with. Names are good.

AF: No names; what, are you kidding? I will tell you that I once worked on a picture book where the author and illustrator were best friends and solidly invested in the project together...until they had a creative difference about the book. It was my job to intercede. I learned early on that it is a mistake to let authors and illustrators confer and work together. They will both have to compromise at some point. No matter how hard they try to be generous about each other, authors and illustrators will always have a slightly different vision of the book in their head. So it is better for the publishing house to take the reins of a project, protect it as a separate entity, take all responsibility for decisions that someone may be unhappy about, and keep their own final vision in mind. After all, the publisher is footing the bill. In this particular case, the author and illustrator were no longer talking by the time the book launched, and they wouldn't even appear in the same room together. It taught me an early lesson. When it comes to inexperienced authors or illustrators, I sometimes have to remind them that they own only half of the story; they have to play nice and share the project. And sharing is sometimes easier if they never meet until the book launch! And it's always better if they blame me instead of each other; then they can remain good friends.

MB: Our love of books came naturally since we had a father who would read an armful of books every week. My appreciation for books came a little later but you would go to the library regularly with Dad. Do you think this is what inspired your love of reading?

AF: Oh yes. But I remember that libraries almost didn't happen for me at all. Dad would just leave me at the entrance to the children's section every Saturday while he went off to the adult section. My first time there, I chose my books and carried them up to the librarian's desk. She immediately took them from me and put them on the return cart. I was so shy that I didn't tell her that I wasn't returning books; I wanted to borrow those. So I went home empty-handed that day. Dad never said a word about it. The next week I got up the courage to ask the librarian if I could take my choices home, please. And she said yes! Holy cow! What a concept! And I'll never forget when Dad decided I was ready for the adult section. I was eleven, and I chose Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year. Dad never said a word about that either. I was horrified and delighted by that book—and I still have a perverse attachment to plague stories. If you remember, Mom and Dad never censored our reading material. If we bought comic books, nobody turned a hair. When I started reading Harlequin Romances, I think Dad shuddered a little, but nobody objected. I got to decide myself when it was time to move on to Gone With the Wind, which led me to To Kill a Mockingbird and The Member of the Wedding. Nothing is better than discovering a book for yourself when you are a kid.

MB: Growing up you were team Eloise and I was team Madeline. Was Eloise your favourite book or did you really have another?

AF: Actually, I wasn't a fan of Eloise until I was a mom. But I do still love her excruciatingly. I also loved The Cat in the Hat, Curious George, The Story about Ping and The Camel Who Took a Walk (our brother's favourite picture book to this day, I think!). And I knew every word of Madeline and the Gypsies. When I graduated to novels, I adored The Incredible Journey. And then Mom bought me my first copy of Anne of Green Gables, and I obsessed over her for years. Then there was The Wind in the Willows. Those characters positively sang to me.

MB: What do you see for the future of children’s book?

AF: When e-books were first introduced, I was a bit worried. But it hasn't hurt children's books' sales at all. But what we have come to realize, unfortunately, is that the Canadian market for children's novels and picture books isn't as healthy as it was in the 80s and 90s; it's been slowly declining for years, just as independent bookstores have struggled or closed down in the face of chains and online selling. And what has happened in the last thirty years to the teacher-librarian? Now it is almost impossible for a small publisher to survive on books that emphasize Canadian themes and locations, because there aren't enough booksellers in this country, or school libraries with decent budgets anymore. And the cost of publishing has gone up at the same time. The Canada Council helps tremendously with funding for Canadian-authored projects, but at Pajama Press, we have also learned to thrive by finding a wonderful American company that distributes and sells us in the United States. Libraries there want hardcovers (where there is a better profit margin for the publisher and author), not paperbacks, which booksellers and many libraries only want. Our market south of the border is mostly school and public libraries. I'm grateful to them. This past year we were on the New York Times list of best picture books of the year (eight books were chosen and we had one of them!), and we won a major award administered by the American Library Association. We continue to be recognized south of the border and internationally. That is what you have to do to survive—hope the situation in Canada will improve one day, and in the meantime, cast a wider net. It's a lofty goal to claim you will only publish the finest stories you discover. For us, the reality is different. We must find the best quality stories, yes. But we also must fulfill the market's needs at the same time. And that is the challenge.

My thanks to my dear sister Ann, for letting me twist her arm to do this interview. I couldn’t be more proud of you. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-children-s-author-illustrator-elly-mackay2018-09-07T16:29:00-07:002018-09-07T16:29:16-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR ELLY MACKAYPatricia Oldroyd
Acclaimed paper artist Elly MacKay is the author/illustrator of our feature book this month, Red Sky at Night. Her previous books have included If You Hold a Seed, Shadow Chasers and Waltz of the Snowflakes. Elly studied print making and illustration at art school. Her technique for creating her illustrations is quite detailed. First she inks her characters and the backgrounds on Yupo paper. Then cuts out the layers and sets them up in her miniature theatre. She lights the scenes and takes multiple photographs, altering the lenses, light and filters to create atmosphere. Elly takes her inspiration from Victoria Paper Theatre and Tunnel Books. She lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

MARMALADE BOOKS: Can you tell us a bit about your childhood, growing up with parents who were artists? Did they inspire you to become an artist?

Acclaimed paper artist Elly MacKay is the author/illustrator of our feature book this month, Red Sky at Night. Her previous books have included If You Hold a Seed, Shadow Chasers and Waltz of the Snowflakes. Elly studied print making and illustration at art school. Her technique for creating her illustrations is quite detailed. First she inks her characters and the backgrounds on Yupo paper. Then cuts out the layers and sets them up in her miniature theatre. She lights the scenes and takes multiple photographs, altering the lenses, light and filters to create atmosphere. Elly takes her inspiration from Victoria Paper Theatre and Tunnel Books. She lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

MARMALADE BOOKS: Can you tell us a bit about your childhood, growing up with parents who were artists? Did they inspire you to become an artist?

ELLY MACKAY: They’re great. Their names are Joan and Steve Irvine. They were always doing something interesting. My mom is a writer, and paper artist (and teacher too) and my dad is a potter and photographer. They live in a converted church out in the country. My options for entertainment out there were to play outside or to join in and make things too. We didn’t have any kids next door so every weekend in the summer my mom would invite all the kids in a 5-10 km radius to our ‘box club’. We used cardboard boxes, spray paint and duct tape to built dragons, time machines and mini puts. Art seemed like a natural thing to do as an adult too. I do remember my guidance councillor in High School being pretty skeptical about my life plan. I’d done really well in Math and he had convinced me to apply for a scholarship. I got it, a full scholarship to Waterloo. Then, I turned it down and went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design instead. Most parents would have told their kids to take the scholarship, but to their credit, my parents didn’t. Not a word. I won’t pretend being an artist is all smooth sailing but I love this life and those fiercely independent, creative and kind people that raised me.

MB: How long does it take for you to create an image?

EM: Oh, it really depends. When it is for a book, I give myself a couple of days. Some are quite complex. There is the planning too and sometimes it just doesn’t feel right and I need to redo it. Other times, especially when I am just playing in the studio, I can create several images in a day that I like. It is a really different process.

MB: Do you have a number of theatres or do you complete one image and then take it down? It must be terribly hard to take a theatre apart!

EM: I have a couple of theatres. I leave an image up until I get the image approved from a publisher. I go on to the next image in the other theatre. The layers of paper are taken down quite easily. I hold things up with tape and wires.

MB: How did you make the leap to children’s books?

EM: I always thought it would be a wonderful job. When I was in university my illustration professor had me do his overflow work and I really enjoyed it. I did a few things for children and my prof set up a meeting with a publisher for me. It was a great opportunity but I wasn’t ready. Later, after I had my daughter I thought I’d work on a portfolio. I put my work on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/theaterclouds) and an agent found me there.

MB: How did the idea for Red Sky at Night come about?

EM: It actually started as another book. The book was called Clouds. The manuscript was as nebulous as the topic. I couldn’t figure out how to put words to it. In the meantime, I was playing with these old weather sayings. I found them so interesting and the science behind them too. They fit the theme but not the story I had already submitted. My wonderfully kind publisher, Tara Walker said I could move forward with Red Sky at Night instead. But... the original Cloud story hasn’t left me. Maybe someday.

MB: Your mother wrote a book about pop-up books. Have you considered doing a pop-up book yourself?

EM: I love pop-ups. I think it would be such fun, and while I love making pop ups, I don’t know how I would go about taking the paper engineering itself that would work for a book and translating it into something for a publisher to have cut and printed. I’d love to learn.

MB: Is there a classic children’s book that you would like to illustrate?

EM: I think a classic would work well with my illustration style. It is nice to have something familiar when the illustrations are unusual. It is tricky though. So many classics are already beautifully illustrated and who would want to try to compete with that.. like Wind in the Willows. Or the classics are stuck in a time that I don’t want to travel to. Anne of Green Gables was an exception. L. M. Montgomery was ahead of her time. There are some writers telling stories that create new mythologies/tales. That really appeals to me.

MB: Do your children create their own paper theatres?

EM: My daughter does. She makes little figures to put in the theatre. My son hasn’t really. When he makes art, he tends to use his whole arm so I pull out the big roll of paper. They are both so creative in different ways.

MB: Can you tell us a bit about your next project?

EM: I’d love to. The book I’m working on right now is called The Secret Fawn, written by Kallie George. It will be published by Tundra. It is about being the smallest kid. I think it will really appeal to that youngest child in a family or to anyone that has ever had an encounter with a deer. I am just at the sketching stage, looking forward to turning those sketches into paper worlds.

My thanks to Elly for this opportunity to have a glimpse into her beautiful world of art. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-children-s-author-minh-le2018-08-17T14:57:00-07:002018-08-17T15:00:18-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR MINH LEPatricia Oldroyd
Minh Le is the author of our feature book this month Drawn Together, an amazing look at the barriers that many children (and adults too!) face with relatives from different cultures who speak a different language. Minh drew on his own experience with his grandparents who were from Vietnam, where his parents immigrated from. Minh was born in the US and grew up in Connecticut. If anyone knows about picture books, it’s Minh. Not only has he written about children’s books for many publications, he writes his own blog, Bottom Shelf Books. Currently, he is serving as a judge for the 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book awards. Always a picture book fan, it was his wife who persuaded him to write a book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): In your first book Let Me Finish, you worked closely with illustrator Isabel Roxas, which is not usually the norm. Your new book Drawn Together, has few words and is such a fabulous and important collaboration with illustrator Dan Santat. How did it come about that Dan would be the illustrator? You didn’t work directly with Dan this time but did you give him notes about how you saw the illustrations for the story?

Minh Le is the author of our feature book this month Drawn Together, an amazing look at the barriers that many children (and adults too!) face with relatives from different cultures who speak a different language. Minh drew on his own experience with his grandparents who were from Vietnam, where his parents immigrated from. Minh was born in the US and grew up in Connecticut. If anyone knows about picture books, it’s Minh. Not only has he written about children’s books for many publications, he writes his own blog, Bottom Shelf Books. Currently, he is serving as a judge for the 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book awards. Always a picture book fan, it was his wife who persuaded him to write a book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): In your first book Let Me Finish, you worked closely with illustrator Isabel Roxas, which is not usually the norm. Your new book Drawn Together, has few words and is such a fabulous and important collaboration with illustrator Dan Santat. How did it come about that Dan would be the illustrator? You didn’t work directly with Dan this time but did you give him notes about how you saw the illustrations for the story?

MINH LE (ML): Thank you for the kind words, I really feel like I hit the illustrator jackpot with my first two books!

For Drawn Together, it was our amazing editor Rotem Moscovich who made the connection. Fresh off his Caldecott win, she mentioned to Dan that she thought the two of us might be a good fit for a book... so I got this email from my agent that night saying that we have an opportunity to work with Dan and I needed to send him 2-3 book ideas within 2 days. Dan’s life was about to be completely swept away by the Caldecott madness and we had to strike while the window was still open.

No pressure. ;-)

I had just come back from the hospital with my second son, so was up at 3am rocking my newborn to sleep and trying to figure out “How do you write a story for someone who just won THE BIGGEST AWARD IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE??” Fortunately, this is the story that came from that.

As for notes, most of this story takes place in the pictures so I did have to rely on illustration notes. But I always try to keep a light touch and only include the info necessary for Dan to know what was going on in the story/narrative. The details of how that all visually came together and how the scenes came to life, I wanted to leave in Dan’s talented hands.

MB: I’ve read that Drawn Together was an emotional journey for both you and Dan. You both describe connecting with your roots and your grandparents. Sadly you lost your own grandfather just before the book was published. Did you feel that writing this book helped you to deal with the passing of your grandfather?

ML: It definitely has, thank you for asking. It’s been a kind of blessing because in the year since he passed, I have spent so much time out there sharing this story about our relationship. Sharing his spirit and memory with people (and having them in turn share their own stories with me) has been a pleasant surprise that has made him feel extremely present in my daily life.

And as someone who loves and believes fully in the power of books, I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than by giving him a place on the shelf.

MB: In addition to writing two wonderful books, you are a children’s book reviewer, blogger, write articles for publications like The New York Times and Huffington Post, are a key-note speaker, presenter, a father of two boys and your day job is as an early childhood policy writer. How on earth do you manage it all?!

ML: Ha, that answer depends on the day. ;-) Life is very full right now and every now and then it dips over capacity... but it is full with wonderful things so I can’t complain. My wife and I both put our family first, but we believe that part of being good parents is showing our kids that it is important to devote time and energy to the things that you believe in. So when they see my wife (who does amazing work in international education & advocacy) working late into the night or see me visiting schools and squeezing in writing wherever I can, we’re hoping to set a positive example for them.

With the world the way it is right now, we want our boys to know that part of being a strong family is being able to engage with the world around us. It’s important to do what we can to add something positive to counteract the negative.

MB: I bet your house is full of children’s books which your sons must love. How many books do you think you have accumulated?

ML: HA, to give you an idea, when people ask me to describe our home I often say: “Imagine a bookstore and a library got into a fight... during a hurricane.” My boys live in this magical world where they get boxes of free books delivered to their door every day. The year is barely halfway done, but we’ve already received well over a thousand books so far.

And while we do have a wonderful collection of books, my wife and I have also identified over a dozen local schools, libraries, and other deserving organizations that can put the books to good use. So once I’m done reviewing, we get the added bonus/joy of donating hundreds upon hundreds of books, getting them into the hands of children and families who truly need them.

MB: Can you tell us a little bit about your job as a childhood policy expert?

ML: Sure! I work for the federal government (starting during the previous administration) on a national program that helps low-income working families pay for child care. I write policies and regulations for the program to help States invest the money in ways that will hopefully serve the most families possible while also ensuring that children are in safe and high-quality settings.

It’s a much different kind of writing, but I like to think that it’s related because both kinds of writing are in service of children and families. (Though of course, writing picture books is much more fun.)

MB: Thank you Minh. Congratulations on this amazing book.

ML: Thank YOU for having me and for sharing our book with your readers!

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-childrens-author-illustrator-dan-santat2018-08-10T17:03:00-07:002018-08-10T17:51:51-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN'S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR DAN SANTATPatricia Oldroyd
Dan Santat is a very talented author and illustrator of over 60 books. He lives in southern California with his wife, two sons and a variety of pets. In 2015 he won the Caldecott Medal for his book Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. This prestigious medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Dan is the illustrator of our feature book this month, Drawn Together.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): In order to convey the language barrier that the boy and his grandfather had inDrawn Together, there was very little text. Your illustrations were so important to the story. How much direction did you get from author Minh Le and/or your editor? And while we’re at it, how did it work forDude!? This hilarious high concept book (illustrated by you) only has one word by Aaron Reynolds, expressed in many different ways.

Dan Santat is a very talented author and illustrator of over 60 books. He lives in southern California with his wife, two sons and a variety of pets. In 2015 he won the Caldecott Medal for his book Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. This prestigious medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Dan is the illustrator of our feature book this month, Drawn Together.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): In order to convey the language barrier that the boy and his grandfather had in Drawn Together, there was very little text. Your illustrations were so important to the story. How much direction did you get from author Minh Le and/or your editor? And while we’re at it, how did it work for Dude!? This hilarious high concept book (illustrated by you) only has one word by Aaron Reynolds, expressed in many different ways.

DAN SANTAT (DS): Everyone was fairly hands off on the art notes for Drawn Together. Minh was very open to interpretation in his manuscript allowing me to use either Thai or Vietnamese cultural aspects for the story. The story had a dragon in the plot and I knew of a fairly ornate dragon (or serpent) in Thai mythology so I went in that direction also knowing that the decorative clothing in Thai culture would also lend to a very detailed and ornate look for the book. I actually had no idea how the art was going to look in the book because I was exploring the story with the intention that the style of the art was going to reflect that of the characters in the story rather than my own. Spreads typically take me a day to complete, and in this case it was taking me anywhere from three to eight days. I just called the art finished once it “felt right”. I’ve worked with the folks at Disney-Hyperion for years now and they’re generally used to my art process and they know what to expect. My editor, knowing I could typically finish a two page spread in a day called in to my studio asking me if everything was okay because I was being a little quiet. All I could say was, “I think I’m on to something, but I don’t know what.”

I’m glad the book has been received well.

As for Dude!, Aaron was very specific about the narrative of the book because the script absolutely needed that information for me to illustrate the story. The page would say “Dude!” and then have art notes in parentheses to give me an idea what it all meant and what was going on in the story. It was amazing. It was a story that I wish I had written.

MB: While writing or illustrating many authors and illustrators play music that inspires the feeling of what they are working on. Did you have a soundtrack for Drawn Together? I can imagine some great dramatic action music while the grandfather and grandson battle out their artwork.

DS: I’m not really a soundtrack guy when I work. I much prefer watching TV shows and movies while in the studio. I watch everything and it would be hard to nail down what it was I was watching at the time. Game of Thrones, Westworld, and even network TV. On the occasion that I do listen to music I’ll typically listen to a local college radio station located in Santa Monica called KCRW. You can stream them on the internet if you’re curious.

MB: You’ve talked about how much your family has influenced your work. Adventures of Beekle for the birth of your son. (I love that his first word was Beekle). I was very touched when you talked about After the Fall. You’ve said it was a love letter to your wife as she dealt with horrible anxiety and postnatal depression. Do you feel that becoming a husband and a father has changed the way you approach your work?

DS: Yes, I’d say that life experiences have become a huge source of inspiration for me. I typically try to think of a life experience that we can all relate to as people and then I try to convert the emotion that is associated with that particular experience into words and images. I think that capturing that emotion is everything to the story.

MB: Is there an artist that inspires you?

DS: I’m inspired by people who are passionate about anything they do, not just art. I’m inspired by people who love a particular craft so much that they put their heart and soul into it wether it’s cooking, or acting, or whatever. I try to approach my art with an intense love of the thing I’m doing at that moment because I know that the passion will make it the best work I can do.

MB: Your sons are older now but I’m sure they loved to have you read to them. Did you test out your own stories on them and what was their reaction?

DS: I actually never read any of my stories to the kids. They get really embarrassed when they know the underlying context of a story is about them so I spare them the embarrassment. They also love to read what they choose and I don’t want to be the dad that says, “Oh, you want to read Wimpy Kid? No, no. I’ve got something better!”

MB: I’m crazy about so many of your books and I love the extra surprises that you’ve hidden in the books. I have to ask you, was there something special about the date October 24, 2059 in Are We There Yet?

DS: October 24, 2059 is the day my youngest son turns 50 years old. The book is dedicated to him and he’s so impatient about things that I wanted to leave him one more thing to be patient for.

My thanks to Dan for this wonderful interview. You are amazing and I look forward to every new book you are involved in. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-children-s-author-and-illustrator-team-terry-and-eric-fan-the-fan-brothers2018-07-10T15:43:00-07:002018-07-10T16:01:55-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR TEAM, TERRY AND ERIC FAN (THE FAN BROTHERS)Patricia Oldroyd
Terry and Eric Fan are the creators of the recently published, Ocean Meets Sky. This amazingly detailed and enchanting book is the second for the Fan Brothers as both authors and illustrators. In 2017 their first book The Night Gardener, won the prestigious Ruth Swartz Children’s Book Award and a Blue Spruce Award. They also illustrated the gorgeous The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater and The Darkest Night by astronaut Chris Hadfield. These incredibly talented brothers are from Toronto, Ontario.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): Terry, I assume you are the oldest? You were born in Illinois and then you moved to Hawaii where Eric was born? Which island did you live on and can you tell us a bit about your life in paradise?

Terry and Eric Fan are the creators of the recently published, Ocean Meets Sky. This amazingly detailed and enchanting book is the second for the Fan Brothers as both authors and illustrators. In 2017 their first book The Night Gardener, won the prestigious Ruth Swartz Children’s Book Award and a Blue Spruce Award. They also illustrated the gorgeous The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater and The Darkest Night by astronaut Chris Hadfield. These incredibly talented brothers are from Toronto, Ontario.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): Terry, I assume you are the oldest? You were born in Illinois and then you moved to Hawaii where Eric was born? Which island did you live on and can you tell us a bit about your life in paradise?

TERRY AND ERIC FAN (E&TF): Yes, I’m about a year-and-a-half older than Eric. We lived in Oahu for about three years in the early 60’s. Dad earned his PHD in Philosophy at The University of Hawaii in Honolulu. I only have vague, but very happy, memories of that time because we were so young. One of my first memories is being on the beach - I’m pretty sure it was Waikiki Beach. From photos during that time it seems like we were always on the beach and very tanned! That may be the reason I feel such a strong affinity towards the ocean and am always happier when near a large body of water. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Eric and I ended up living in “The Beaches” neighbourhood of Toronto, which has a long boardwalk that runs along Lake Ontario.

MB: When and what brought you to Toronto? By the way, Canada is pretty happy to lay claim to you now!

E&TF: Our dad was offered a full-time teaching position at York University in Toronto, so we moved there in 1970. We’ve lived in Toronto ever since, but are still dual U.S./Canadian citizens.

MB: I recently saw a video of you both creating a picture. You passed the picture back and forth, each taking a turn working on it and then finally both working on it at the same time. It was fascinating to watch. It was almost like you were twins with the exact same image in your heads. Is this normally how you work? Do you ever disagree on the direction of the work?

E&TF: We live close to one another and whenever we get the chance we like to work that way. Sometimes, for the sake of practicality, we work on elements separately and then upload them to a shared Dropbox folder. Then we’ll both colour and put together full scenes in Photoshop and often refine/modify each other’s work to one degree or another. We’ve developed a kind of “artistic dialogue” over the years that’s intuitive and has served us pretty well so far.

Of course, as with any partnership, we occasionally have disagreements, but we always manage to work them out. When working on a project together we both have the same goal in mind, so we put aside our egos and focus collectively on getting the best result we can. It’s important to keep an open mind and to really listen to different ideas or viewpoints. This doesn’t just apply to our own working relationship, but also to the editor and art director of a project. Working on a picture book is a very collaborative effort so co-operation and respect on all levels is vitally important.

MB: How does it work with writing a story?

E&TF: Usually we’ll get together and have brainstorming sessions where we toss ideas back and forth and most of our story ideas come out of this process. Then we both work on the text and it invariably goes through many edits before we arrive at a final draft. Sometimes the text or story will also change depending on the art work. The “flow” is so important in picture books, so we try to create stories that can be understood on a visual level.

MB: Your new book, Ocean Meets Sky is an absolute work of art. There is so much amazing detail that it should come with a warning for parents “This book cannot be read quickly!” It feels like you could have many sequels as each page is a story in itself. Where did the idea for the story come from?

E&TF: Wow, thanks so much! The original inspiration came from a standalone design that was done many years ago. We always thought there was a good story behind it, but it took a lot of brainstorming and quite a number of different drafts to arrive at a story we were happy with. Even though the text in some picture books may seem simple, I think people would be surprised by how much thought and effort goes into it. It’s a real challenge to write within the confines of a typical picture book structure because the story has to be told in a very economical and concise way.

MB: One double spread from the book is the Library Islands. There are stacks of books (including your own The Night Gardener) and all sorts of beautiful birds. Many of the books on the page are classics, a book on astronomy etc. Were these your favourite books growing up?

E&TF: That was one of our favourite scenes. It was kind of our love letter to books and to libraries. We did that particular spread when we were attending the Sendak Fellowship, and it was a turning point where the book finally started to come into focus. Sendak collected books, and there were bookshelves in all the studios and farmhouses at Scotch Hill farm, all stacked with books... it was kind of like being on our own library island. Some of the books titles in that scene were made up, but the real ones were definitely some of our favourite books growing up.

MB: Are you working on a new project and can you tell us about it?

E&TF: We’re currently working on final art for The Scarecrow, written by Beth Ferry. It’s due to be published in the Fall of 2019 by Harper-Collins. After that we’ll be working on our own story entitled The Barnabus Project, which will be published by Penguin-Random House Canada. Our younger brother, Devin, will also be joining us on that one. The three of us working together should be an interesting experience!

My thanks to Terry and Eric Fan for this interview. It was a thrill and an absolute pleasure to get to know more about you and your wonderful work. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-children-s-author-and-illustrator-sophie-blackall2018-06-15T17:44:00-07:002018-06-15T21:25:51-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR SOPHIE BLACKALLPatricia Oldroyd
Sophie Blackall has illustrated over 30 books and won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 2016 for Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear. Her latest book, Hello Lighthouse is very special and I predict will win many awards. The story of a lighthouse keeper and his family, this book (also written by Sophie) is almost a search and find that I’m sure children will find something new every time they open the book.

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Sophie Blackall has illustrated over 30 books and won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 2016 for Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear. Her latest book, Hello Lighthouse is very special and I predict will win many awards. The story of a lighthouse keeper and his family, this book (also written by Sophie) is almost a search and find that I’m sure children will find something new every time they open the book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): What was it like growing up in Australia?

SOPHIE BLACKALL (SB): I spent a great deal of my childhood in Australia up a tree with a book. My brother was usually in the tree next door, also with a book. We had a brilliantly designed, poorly executed rope, pulley and basket system between trees to exchange books. (We were in our Famous Five period, and fortunately Enid Blyton was prolific enough to keep us fueled.) We only ever read paperback books in trees. For one thing, the book exchange was precarious, and many books went flying down to no man’s land between the branches. Also, my tree was a pink peppercorn and oozed sticky sap. And also, we didn’t always remember to bring our books down with us, and even though this was hot, dry South Australia, it sometimes rained.

On my walk home from school I would pass the butcher shop and ask for some of the paper he used to wrap meat to draw on. He would roll up a few sheets and slice a piece of mortadella into the bargain. (I’ve been fond of butchers ever since.) If I wasn’t lurking about the butcher’s or up a tree, I was at the beach.

MB: What inspired you to move to New York?

SB: To our great surprise, we won green cards in the diversity visa lottery which gave us three months to pack up our lives and move to the US. It was a grand adventure. We had a three year old and an infant and we rented a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, sight unseen. It was full of mice and a rotting mattress, but…it was still a grand adventure.

A lot has changed since then, but New York never fails to sweep me off my feet.

MB: On your Instagram account you recently shared pictures of your literary dream of a trip to England, including the home of Beatrix Potter. Can you tell us more about this trip and the things that excited you the most?

SB: Ahh! I am having the very best imaginable time, researching a book for grown ups about the houses of my favorite writers. One of those writers is Beatrix Potter. I just came back from the Lake District in England, where I stayed at Yew Tree Farm, one of the many farms she owned in the area. After her death she left 15 farms including Yew Tree and Hill Top, which is now a museum, and several thousand acres of land to the National Trust so that the astonishingly beautiful country would be protected for the enjoyment of all. She was an extraordinary woman, an exquisite painter, an inquisitive thinker, a meticulous naturalist, a passionate conservationist and is a hero in the Lake District. She also fell in love, had her heart broken and fell in love again, in the middle of her life. Her first fiancé, who was also her first editor, Norman Warne, died shortly before they could be married. She kept his umbrella and his ring for the rest of her life.

I am having a wonderful time thinking about my favorite books and what they mean to me, then traveling to those authors’ houses to see what I can discover of them there. I am drawing the things they left behind and thinking how our possessions define us.

MB: I’ve read that you hide a whale in each of your books in honour of Moby Dick and in Hello Lighthouse, you can find a whale in almost every illustration. It seems that this new book brings together three things that you really love; lighthouses, whales and the sea. What is it about these things that inspire you?

SB: I grew up by the sea. I first drew with sticks in the sand. I pine for the sea if I’m away too long. As Melville writes, “There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.”

I picked up Moby Dick when I’d been away from the sea too long. Books have a way of finding you at the right time. And if the time is right, Moby Dick, like New York, can sweep a person off her feet. My obsession with Moby Dick took me to New Bedford and beyond. On a beach in Cape Cod, I picked up a whale rib which now hangs above my bed. Whales began to work their way into my books, hidden mostly. But finally, in Hello Lighthouse they appear, as you say, on almost every page, if only as the weather vane atop the cupola.Lighthouses are both compelling and comforting. I love the contrast between the stormy sea crashing against the tower and the cozy round rooms inside, like curling up with a book on a rainy day.

I was working on Hello Lighthouse during some of the most turbulent times I’ve ever known. It was a great comfort to escape into my painting, to transport myself to a tiny island out at sea.

Recently a child at a school visit asked, “What were your emotions like when you made Hello Lighthouse?” I told him that there were a lot of bad and sad and crummy things happening in the world when I made this book, and that when the world is full of such things, books offer an escape to a different, kinder world. And if we can’t find exactly the world we seek in a book, then we can make our own book and our own world.

MB: The level of detail in your illustrations for Hello Lighthouse is amazing. There is so much to discover here, like finding the whales, the anchors on the wife’s dress, the bunny slippers on the daughter, the details in the cut-a-way of the lighthouse and the gorgeous waves reminiscent of The Great Wave print by Hokusai. Did you have trouble knowing when to stop and did you have more that you wanted to add?

SB: The best books are the ones you don’t want to finish making. But then you get to live with them out in the world. It’s such a pleasure sharing Hello Lighthouse with readers, and getting to visit more lighthouses now the book is out, seems too good to be true.

MB: Are you working on a new project and can you tell us about it?

SB: Like Beatrix Potter, I always have a dozen things going at once, and like Beatrix Potter, I have bought a farm. (Only one, so far.) Right now, Milkwood Farm is an abandoned dairy farm in upstate New York on 21 beautiful acres of rolling hills and wildflower meadows and meandering streams. But in two years time, it will have been transformed into a place for writers and illustrators to gather and spend time together, writing, drawing, talking, walking, eating, drinking, thinking. You can find out more about the project here! www.milkwoodfarm.org

My thanks to Sophie for this interview. I've only scratched the service of her very interesting adventures in writing and illustrating. It's always such a pleasure to learn more about the talented and inspiring authors and illustrators in the world of children's literature. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-childrens-author-and-illustrator-galia-bernstein2018-05-05T14:12:00-07:002018-05-05T14:25:21-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR GALIA BERNSTEINPatricia OldroydI Am a Cat is Galia’s debut picture book as both author and illustrator. It’s a story about Simon, an average house cat. He tries to tell Lion, Cheetah, Puma, Panther and Tiger that he is just like them. The big cats look shocked and then start laughing hysterically. It takes some convincing but the big cats have no choice but to recognize that Simon is just like them, just smaller. I love the illustrations and all the cats. Their expressions carry the story so much further.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You were born in Israel and went to New York for art school. What was it like making a big move like that?

I Am a Cat is Galia’s debut picture book as both author and illustrator. It’s a story about Simon, an average house cat. He tries to tell Lion, Cheetah, Puma, Panther and Tiger that he is just like them. The big cats look shocked and then start laughing hysterically. It takes some convincing but the big cats have no choice but to recognize that Simon is just like them, just smaller. I love the illustrations and all the cats. Their expressions carry the story so much further.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You were born in Israel and went to New York for art school. What was it like making a big move like that?

GALIA BERNSTEIN (GB): It was amazing! There was so much to do and see and so much art! On my first drawing class in art school, we went to sketch in the museum of modern art. Paintings I only knew from books were everywhere!

I walked to school everyday on 5th Avenue, it felt like I’m in a movie.

I did think the winters were too cold at first. I wore a giant parka in October! I’m sure that’s very funny to Canadians... I love the New York winters now.

MB: You are such a creative person. From magazine work, textile print, ceramic art and sculpture to drawing and painting with watercolours, acrylics and digital art. Do you have a favourite or do you love it all?

GB: I love them all! I love working with my hands and building things, if I’ve been working digitally for a long time, my fingers will start itching to make something, to get dirty. Most of my work these days is digital, so once in a while I have to take a break and do something fun and messy.

MB: How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an artist?

GB: Art was a huge part of my life for as long as I remember. It was so much of who I was, that for a time I resented it. Everyone I knew expected me to be an artist, which made me rebellious as a teenager. That ended when I got my first illustration job. I immediately knew it’s what I want to do. I was 18.

MB: I Am a Cat is your first book as both author and illustrator. I understand this was an idea you have worked on for many years. How did the story progress through the years?

GB: In my early teens I had an idea for a cartoon about a little cat, who was laughed at by big cats because he wasn’t cat enough. In art school, I developed it into a story and wrote the monologue for each big cat. The ending was different initially and I was never happy with it. Originally, the big cats sent Simon on a quest to prove he was worthy of being a cat. When I read the story again, two years ago, it suddenly hit me, why does Simon need to prove anything? He knows he’s a cat, we know he’s a cat, if the big cats don’t think so, let them prove it! And so, a new Simon was born, strong and confident. The book was finally finished.

MB: I’m partial to tigers and perhaps that’s why I love marmalade cats. Of all the cats you created for this book, which was your favourite?

GB: Well, Tiger does get the funniest lines in the book...

I love big cats! I always have. I’ve done very little research when I drew the cats in the books, because I’ve been researching them all my life. The first big cat I started drawing, when I was four or five, was a lion, so I have a soft spot for lions. The way Lion sits in the book, with his front legs crossed, is also a homage to my regal (but tiny) dog Oliver who always sits like that. I also always loved Bagheera from The Jungle Book, so panthers are a personal favorite as well.

MB: Can you tell us a bit about your next project? Will you continue to write as well as illustrate?

GB: I am currently working on my second book as writer-illustrator and it will be published in early 2019! It’s about a little baboon girl with a very large, loud and loving family. Perhaps too loving sometimes...

I am super excited about this book, and can’t wait for you guys to see it!

My thanks to Galia for this interview. We can’t wait to see your new book too! Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/book-review-george-by-alex-gino-12018-03-27T15:59:00-07:002018-03-27T21:56:53-07:00BOOK REVIEW: GEORGE BY ALEX GINOPatricia Oldroyd
Thanks to the internet, television and books, there is a greater opportunity to learn more about subjects like gender identity issues in children. Many picture books are available for children 4-8 years old including Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, Princess Boy, Jacob’s New Dress and I Am Jazz. There is also a TV show about transgender teen Jazz Jennings. Plus numerous middle grade novels for 8-12 year-olds, and young adult novels for 12 and older.
I finally had an opportunity to read a middle grade novel that has been on my TBR (to be read) pile for awhile now. Not every parent will want their child reading this or any book about gender identity issues. But for those who are open to it, I feel that the story is appropriate for the 8-12 year-old range.

Thanks to the internet, television and books, there is a greater opportunity to learn more about subjects like gender identity issues in children. Many picture books are available for children 4-8 years old including Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, Princess Boy, Jacob’s New Dress and I Am Jazz. There is also a TV show about transgender teen Jazz Jennings. Plus numerous middle grade novels for 8-12 year-olds, and young adult novels for 12 and older.

I finally had an opportunity to read a middle grade novel that has been on my TBR (to be read) pile for awhile now. Not every parent will want their child reading this or any book about gender identity issues. But for those who are open to it, I feel that the story is appropriate for the 8-12 year-old range. And beyond the subject itself, it shows characters that are empathetic, non-judgmental and caring. I really loved George by Alex Gino and it will go on my list of unforgettable books. George is a girl with a pretty big, stressful secret. The world sees her as a boy. George and the story’s narrator refer to her as a girl and so I found it easy to quickly also think of George as a girl. No one knows George’s secret, not her family (although we come to learn that they think she is gay), not even her best friend Kelly (a girl). Things come to a head when George and Kelly’s class puts on a play based on the book, Charlotte’s Web. George loves this book and desperately wants to play Charlotte. Kelly knows how much George covets the part of Charlotte, and the two spend a great deal of time practicing and learning the lines. When George auditions and reads the part of Charlotte for Ms. Udell, the teacher is extremely annoyed. “You know I can’t very well cast you as Charlotte. I have too many girls who want the part. Besides, imagine how confused people would be.” Ms. Udell offers George the part of Wilbur but she declines. George mutters to herself, “Stupid. Stupid body. Stupid brain. Stupid boys and stupid girls. Stupid everything.”

Everything starts to pile up all at once for poor George. Kelly gets the part of Charlotte. And even worse, George is being bullied by two boys in the class who obviously sense that something isn’t quite right with George and start calling her a “freaking girl.” Kelly drags George away, telling her not to listen to the jerks. George finally has enough nerve to say to Kelly, “What if I am?” Then George arrives home to find that her Mom has discovered her prized collection of girl magazines. The magazines have given her such comfort and now an angry Mom tells George she’d better not find him wearing her clothes or shoes. “That kind of thing was cute when you were three. You’re not three anymore.”

The next week is depressing for George. She doesn’t talk to Kelly and her Mom doesn’t say anything about the magazines. Fortunately, Kelly comes around and is very accepting of her best friend. Together they devise a plan for George to take the role of Charlotte in the play. They hope that everyone, including George’s mom, will see that she is a girl. George finally comes out to her family, and it’s encouraging when they begin to accept who she truly is. She even has an opportunity to be her true-self – Melissa. Kelly invites her on a trip to the Bronx Zoo and suggests that she dress as Melissa. It will be safe because no one in the city will know her.

I’m sure that not all transgender children have as positive a reaction to their coming-out from family and close friends that George has. But it is heartwarming to see how it could be. George is a perfect book to encourage conversations on gender identity and acceptance of those around us.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-nicola-o-byrne2018-03-05T12:29:00-08:002018-03-05T12:44:06-08:00MY INTERVIEW WITH NICOLA O’BYRNEPatricia Oldroyd
Nicola is the author/illustrator of our February 2018 feature book, What’s Next Door? It is the sequel to Open Very Carefully. A fabulous read-aloud and fun interactive book about the very charming Carter the Crocodile.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You were born in Swaziland, grew up in Singapore and spent time in numerous other cities including Edinburgh before settling in Los Angeles. What took you to these places and which was your favourite? Have you been to Canada?

Nicola is the author/illustrator of our February 2018 feature book, What’s Next Door? It is the sequel to Open Very Carefully. A fabulous read-aloud and fun interactive book about the very charming Carter the Crocodile.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You were born in Swaziland, grew up in Singapore and spent time in numerous other cities including Edinburgh before settling in Los Angeles. What took you to these places and which was your favourite? Have you been to Canada?

NICOLA O’BYRNE (NO): My parents were international school teachers before they retired, and we moved around a couple times. I did a gap year in Kenya before I moved to the UK for university, where I met my Dutch/American husband during my first year at Edinburgh College of Art. He had always wanted to live in different places, and it felt normal for me. We moved to Los Angeles together a couple years ago. I do think moving gets harder as you get older, but it's always exciting and interesting, too.

I have been to Canada, several times, and I love it! I had my first ever apple bran muffin at the YMCA in Vancouver. I almost studied at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. I had to accept my place at Edinburgh before I found out I'd been accepted at Emily Carr. In the end, Edinburgh was a good choice for me, but I would move to Vancouver given half a chance. I'm still trying to persuade my husband! I love it there, the ocean, the mountains, and that lovely city tucked between... it's a special place. My sister studied at McGill in Montreal, and we visited her there, but it was a bit cold for me. I went on a camping trip with my family around Victoria, BC, and Whistler, and it's one of my most fondly remembered holidays. I went back to be a facilitator at a month long youth leadership seminar at Pearson United World College, also in Victoria, and I saw the northern lights on the drive over from the airport, just like that! I'll never forget it. Vancouver Island is beautiful. Japan and Canada are probably my two favourite places. This answer became long but I got excited thinking about it.

MB: You started drawing at an early age. Did you start writing at the same time?

NO: I was always writing stories when I was little. Once I wrote a fractured fairy tale, and my ever encouraging teacher laminated the cover, stuck a Dewey Decimal System label on the spine and catalogued it in the school library! I was so proud! The story I wrote then was not totally dissimilar to The Last Book Before Bedtime (Nosy Crow). I stopped writing fiction for a long time through my teenage years, and when I started again in University it was very hard going. It did not come naturally to me at all. I regret not keeping up my creative writing throughout high school; my English teacher encouraged us to do it, but I was always so tired. I still struggle with that aspect of my job, but I also very much enjoy it.

MB: While in Edinburgh, you studied at the Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2010 with a BA in Visual Communication. You speak highly of the school. It seems they helped you on your way to a successful career with an amazing (if I'm correct) 9 books in 8 years.

NO: The Illustration Department at ECA is amazing. My teachers were all successful illustrators, and had diverse skill sets, from digital illustration to traditional woodblock printmaking. The Printmaking Department was completely open to us and free to use, and I took it for granted at the time, but thinking about it now, it was an incredible resource. I loved the mix of traditional methods and more modern techniques. There was an emphasis on drawing skills and life drawing, and sketchbook work. We had live briefs and lectures about book keeping. There was also an emphasis on independent study, which was frustrating for some visiting students who were more used to structured classes, but in my opinion, it was vital in my first few years as an illustrator to know how to work by myself without any outside motivation. Jonathan Gibbs, the Head of Department, is a talented printmaker. I always valued my tutorials with him because he'd glance at your work and provide insights into what you were trying to do when you felt like you'd been grasping at smoke. He'd always be right! I cannot recommend that department highly enough. I am still in touch with some of my teachers such as Jill Calder. She has recently had a beautiful book published with Bloomsbury called The Picture Atlas, by Simon Holland.

MB: Another graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art whom you said was a great influence on you, was children's author/illustrator Catherine Rayner (one of my favourites). Catherine was graduating as you were entering the college and you had an opportunity to meet. What was it like to meet her and have you stayed in touch?

NO: I met Catherine Rayner twice, once when she was a graduating student, and once when she came back to ECA to give a lecture. The first time she was kind enough to talk to my Mum and I about her experience as a student at ECA, and I do not think she realised the depth of the impression she left on us. The second time, having gushed about her at length to my Head of Department, Jonathan called out to her, "I THINK SOMEONE HERE WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU!" at the end of her lecture. I blushed red as a tomato and couldn't think of what to say. She is very lovely. I have emailed her a couple of times with questions, but I'm not in touch with her. It's difficult to chat with people you admire so much.

MB: Was it your interest in baking that inspired The Great Dragon Bake Off? This book hasn't reached Canada yet, but with a recent popular Canadian edition of the Great British Bake Off, I'm hoping it will arrive soon! With a main character/dragon named Flamie Oliver and references to The Great British Bake Off, I'm sure it will be a big hit. Did you get any feedback from Jamie Oliver or the TV show?

NO: I love baking and I wanted to do a book filled with cake, but what inspired The Great Dragon Bake Off was actually the back story of one of the contestants. He was studying to be a lawyer but he really wanted to bake. His story resonated with me, because when I had wanted to be an illustrator several family members, particularly my Grandmother, had told me I was wasting my potential and I'd never amount to anything. After my first book was published, my Grandmother said she'd made a mistake, but that was 7 years later, which is a long time to carry someone's disapproval. I wanted to write a feel good book about being yourself, and about having some sense of self worth. The dragon character was originally named Heston, but one of the team at Bloomsbury suggested Flamie Oliver and I loved that name. I have never heard from Jamie Oliver, and I'm not sure he's read the book. If he has, I hope he likes it!

MB: Our feature book for February, What's Next Door, is a sequel to Open Very Carefully. You illustrated both books and took over writing duties this time around from Nick Bromley. I adore Carter the Crocodile and the interactive aspect of the books. Will there be more in the series?

NO: It's possible there will be more, both Nosy Crow and myself are up for it, but for now we have put it on hold. I have a new book coming out with Nosy Crow this year which is a bit different. The book still deals with some abstract concepts but has a more linear storyline. We're very excited about it and I hope to explore more ideas in this new direction, for now. As tempting as it is to want to continue stories with familiar characters (after all, they're like family!), I think you need a good reason to doit.

My thanks to Nicola O’Byrne for this interview. It was a pleasure getting to know more about this very talented author/illustrator.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/bullying-book-reviews-for-restart-by-gordon-korman-and-posted-by-john-david-anderson2018-02-28T13:31:00-08:002018-02-28T13:31:36-08:00Bullying: Book Reviews for Restart by Gordon Korman and Posted by John David AndersonPatricia Oldroyd
Bullying. For some people, even the word can send a shiver down your spine, bring up horrible memories and make you feel like a defensively child. It affects both children and adults, it happens at school, home, online and in workplaces. Today, February 28th is Pink Shirt Day. A day to bring awareness to a problem that affects 1 in 5 children. A day to encourage everyone to practice kindness and wear pink to symbolize that you don’t tolerate bullying. But of course, it shouldn’t be for just one day, it should be for everyday.

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Bullying. For some people, even the word can send a shiver down your spine, bring up horrible memories and make you feel like a defensively child. It affects both children and adults, it happens at school, home, online and in workplaces. Today, February 28th is Pink Shirt Day. A day to bring awareness to a problem that affects 1 in 5 children. A day to encourage everyone to practice kindness and wear pink to symbolize that you don’t tolerate bullying. But of course, it shouldn’t be for just one day, it should be for everyday.

I recently read two books on bullying that have really stuck with me. Excellent reads for 8-12 year olds, parents and educators.

Restart by Gordon Korman has quite a different take on the subject. Chase is a grade 8 student who falls off a roof and wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. He knows he’s Chase but doesn’t know who Chase is. He doesn’t know anyone. He doesn’t know that he was great at sports and he doesn’t remember that he was a notorious bully. He gets the chance to essentially start over but it isn’t easy when the kids at school, especially the ones that were his victims, have trouble believing that he’s not the old Chase. He continues to have flashbacks of his old life and the things that he’s done. Now he has the chance to decide if he’ll go back to his old life or make amends and become a better person.

Posted by John David Anderson was also a very interesting read. Timely too, as many schools are looking at banning cell phones. That’s just what happens in Posted. When cell phones are banned at school, a group of middle grade friends develop a new way to communicate. They start leaving post-it notes on lockers with messages for each other. It catches on quickly and before they know it, there are colourful sticky notes all over the school. But sadly, the tone of the messages turn cruel and the notes are being used as an anonymous way for kids to bully each other. Now the school has a new problem on their hands. There were some wonderful passages in this book, my favourite of which was “Words accumulate. And once they’re free there’s no taking them back. You can do an awful lot of damage with a handful of words. You can destroy friendships. You can end a marriage. You can start a war. Some words can break you to pieces. But that’s not all. Words can be beautiful. They can make you feel things you’ve never felt before. Gather enough of them and sometimes they can stick those same pieces back together.”

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/book-review-small-things-by-mel-tregonning-12018-02-14T16:15:00-08:002018-02-14T16:21:57-08:00BOOK REVIEW: SMALL THINGS BY MEL TREGONNINGPatricia Oldroyd
According to parenting and teaching educator Barbara Coloroso, childhood anxiety is an issue facing an alarming number of youth today. The subject is hit head-on in Small Things, an amazing and emotional new wordless graphic picture book for ages 8-12, by Australian artist Mel Tregonning.

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﻿According to parenting and teaching educator Barbara Coloroso, childhood anxiety is an issue facing an alarming number of youth today. The subject is hit head-on in Small Things, an amazing and emotional new wordless graphic picture book for ages 8-12, by Australian artist Mel Tregonning.

I received an advance copy from the Canadian publisher Pajama Press. It immediately reminded me of Shaun Tan’s book The Arrival, published in 2007. I never forgot this migrant story. Also wordless in graphic book style, it was the perfect way for the “reader” to really feel what it would be like to arrive in a foreign country, not able to speak or read the language or understand the culture. It would look like an alien world.

Mel Tregonning was obviously inspired by Shaun Tan’s work and created a similar opportunity for readers to see what it would be like to walk in the shoes of a child suffering from debilitating anxiety. This poor young boy is uncomfortable around kids and just doesn’t fit in. He struggles with his school work and his relationship with his family. We are shown that he’s being eaten by little demons that haunt him at school and follow him home. A classmate, his teacher, his parents all try to help, but it isn’t until his sister confides in him that she too has anxiety that we begin to see some hope. He starts to have some relief after talking to his parents. The final pages show the boy recognizing that many of his schoolmates also have demons chasing them. In turn, the boy shows compassion to a little girl who is also suffering.

Sadly, the author passed away before the book was finished. Her family was determined to see the book completed and turned to Shaun Tan, who completed the final few pages and made sure the book reached publication. An afterword by Barbara Coloroso tells us that reaching out to others for help is the first step. This is an important book for pre-teens and young teens that deal with or know someone that deals with anxiety. A must for middle grade school libraries and would be an ideal conversation starter for classrooms.

Like The Arrival, Small Things is also a book this bookseller won’t forget.

Peter H. Reynolds is the author and/or illustrator of over 50 children's books including The Dot. This book was the inspiration for International Dot Day, which encourages creativity. This year over 10 million children and adults are expected to participate in over 170 countries. Peter’s new book The Word Collector, is the feature book in our January Picture and Family Book Box. It's the story of a young boy named Jerome who loves to collect words. Jerome’s discovery of the meaning of the words and how he can use and share them makes for another heart-warming, delightful book from one of my favourite author/illustrators.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You and your twin brother Paul were born in Canada. Although, it doesn’t seem that you spent many years in Canada before moving to the US, can you tell us about your Canadian connection?

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Peter H. Reynolds is the author and/or illustrator of over 50 children's books including The Dot. This book was the inspiration for International Dot Day, which encourages creativity. This year over 10 million children and adults are expected to participate in over 170 countries. Peter’s new book The Word Collector, is the feature book in our January Picture and Family Book Box. It's the story of a young boy named Jerome who loves to collect words. Jerome’s discovery of the meaning of the words and how he can use and share them makes for another heart-warming, delightful book from one of my favourite author/illustrators.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You and your twin brother Paul were born in Canada. Although, it doesn’t seem that you spent many years in Canada before moving to the US, can you tell us about your Canadian connection?

PETER H. REYNOLDS (PHR): I’m still a Canadian citizen and I love Canada. Our parents, Hazel and Keith emigrated to Canada after WWII. We ended up moving to Boston, but my birthplace, Weston, Ontario is still a special star in my life’s constellation.

MB: Do you have a funny twin story you would like to share?

PHR: When I was about 6 years old, the phone rang and I answered. I spoke to the person calling who finally asked me, “Can I speak with someone older?”

“Hold on, I’ll get my brother. He’s 14 minutes older than me.”

MB: I’m a huge fan of your work. Your books inspire and encourage creativity in children. And your illustrations are so charming. I have several favourites. Which is your favourite?

PHR: Thank you for the kind words! Picking favorites is difficult, but if I had to choose it would be my book, “Ish.”

MB: Having been a children’s bookseller for many years, it has been a dream of mine to own my own children’s bookstore. In 2003, you and your brother opened The Blue Bunny in your hometown of Dedham, Massachusetts. It must have been very exciting. Can you tell us a bit about the store?

PHR: Owning a bookstore is indeed dreamy. I recently added a cafe as well, so it’s even dreamier. I noticed 15 years ago that our town didn’t have a bookshop so I decided to open one. Located in Dedham, MA in a historic building built in 1924, The Blue Bunny is a charming shop with hardwood floors and tin ceilings. I’m there quite a bit and love meeting folks who have travelled - sometimes many miles - to visit. To see our bookshop: www.bluebunnybooks.com

MB: You and Paul have also collaborated in a company called FableVision. Can you tell us about it?

PHR: FableVision is a children’s media company creating animated films and interactive media. We are located on the top floor of the Boston Children’s Museum in downtown Boston. It’s a wonderfully creative space filled with writers, animators, programmers, producers, designers and educators. To see our studio: www.fablevision.com

MB: Writing, illustrating, visiting schools, owning The Blue Bunny and Fablevision, and I believe you have two children. You must be incredibly busy but it still comes through that you truly love your work. How do you manage it all?

PHR: My plate is definitely full - but I love what I do and do what I love. That’s the fuel to get it all done. I also don’t do it all alone. I know how to build teams of creative, mission-driven people. Growing up with a twin brother, I always had a collaborative partner.

MB: Your new book The World Collector is about a boy who collects words. Did you collect words as a child?

PHR: I started my informal word collection in about 4th grade when a teacher pointed out that I was using some surprising vocabulary. The word “ancient” was one of those words. From that moment on, I was searching for wonderful words I could use to weave stories and express myself. I do have a few journals packed with my favorite words.

MB: You inspire and encourage many authors and illustrators. Is there an author or illustrator that inspires you?

PHR: Charles Dickens is the author who really inspired me at a young age. His stories were often about the underdog trying to survive. His commitment to social justice really moved me and still does. `I also love Roald Dahl who I imagine must have also been inspired by Dickens.

My thanks to Peter H. Reynolds for this interview. You are an inspiration to children, authors, illustrators, parents and booksellers too. -Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-author-illustrator-sanne-dufft2017-12-07T11:03:00-08:002017-12-07T11:43:54-08:00MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR SANNE DUFFTPatricia Oldroyd
Sanne Dufft is the author and illustrator of The Night Lion, the feature book in our November 2017 boxes. Originally published in Germany as Magnus und der Nachlowe (Magnus and the Night Lion), North American rights were purchased by Canadian publisher Pajama Press. It was published in Canada in November 2017 and will be available in the US in late February 2018. Sanne lives in beautiful Tubingen, in the south of Germany.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): How young were you when you knew you wanted to be an author and an illustrator? Which came first?

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Sanne Dufft is the author and illustrator of The Night Lion, the feature book in our November 2017 boxes. Originally published in Germany as Magnus und der Nachlowe (Magnus and the Night Lion), North American rights were purchased by Canadian publisher Pajama Press. It was published in Canada in November 2017 and will be available in the US in late February 2018. Sanne lives in beautiful Tubingen, in the south of Germany.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): How young were you when you knew you wanted to be an author and an illustrator? Which came first?

SANNE DUFFT (SD): I must have been about eight or nine years old, when I decided to be a children’s book illustrator when I grew up. Here in Germany, the books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren are very popular, and were, not only for my generation, very present in our childhood lives. I adored the images by the Estonian illustrator Ilon Wikland, who illustrated a lot of her stories. Not only did I know I wanted to illustrate children’s books, I knew I wanted to illustrate exactly the way she did.

But later in my life, other dreams came along, and I did a lot of other things: First, I thought I wanted to make what I then thought was real art.

I learned marble sculpture and applied for art college. But before going to college, I wanted to see a bit of the world, which brought me to Northern Ireland, where I was going to spend six months - and ended up staying for more than three years! Then I discovered art therapy as a profession in which I could be an artist, and also work with people.

Later, when I had my children, I realized I wanted to spend as much time as possible with them while they were little. I loved being with them, and found myself filling sketchbooks with little sketches of them. I guess this reawakened my childhood dream.

Becoming an author was something I never planned or even dreamt of. It just happened, as some of the images I drew asked for words to go with them. I was lucky enough to have some wonderful people around me who helped me and encouraged me to turn these words into stories.

MB: I adore The Night Lion and the charming illustrations. How did the idea for the story come to you and how long did it take to get to the publishing stage?

SD: Thank you! First, there was an image which I made for a promotional postcard to send to publishers: A little boy lying asleep with a big lion. Don’t ask me where the idea for that came from… However, there it was, and I had the feeling that there could be a story to go with that image. In a process which took about two years, the story evolved, very much like a jigsaw puzzle put together from different elements, which came to me bit by bit. Some fragments for example were contributed by my children’s nana, my mother-in-law.

MB: You spent time in Northern Ireland working with special needs children. Can you tell us more about that?

SD: In Northern Ireland, I lived and worked at a Camphill Community, which is a boarding school for children with special needs, set up like a little village. An incredibly beautiful and inspiring place, for the children who live there as much as for young people from all over the world, who come there for a stretch of time to help and to learn.

MB: What is your hometown of Tuebingen, Germany like?

SD: I love Tuebingen. It is a picturesque little medieval town, with tiny houses in narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, a castle and a river running through it. I love living here. The town is large enough to have everything I need. There is even a bookstore specializing in children’s books! And it is small enough to easily get away from. From our house, it takes a short bike ride or a walk to be out in the fields or the woods.

MB: How old are your children and what do they think about having a mother who is an author and illustrator?

SD: My son is almost 16 years old, my older daughter is going to be 14, and my youngest has just turned eight.

All in all they like it, although my teenagers think I should be making ’cooler’ stuff. They are the most honest and straightforward critics I have, and this really helps me. (I don’t think I’ll ever live up to their expectations, though, but I guess that’s what it’s like to be a mother of teens…)

My youngest is a great fan of my work. She celebrates every new book with me.

She also draws and paints a lot and sometimes joins me in my studio to work alongside me.

MB: Have you ever been to Canada?

SD: I have, and I loved it! When I was sixteen, I had the opportunity to take part in an exchange program with a girl from Aurora, Ontario. I stayed there for a few months, and went to school with her. Luckily, I was there for part of the holidays, too, and got to spend some time at their little holiday cottage at Georgian Bay, which I absolutely loved. Over here in Europe, it is hard to find untouched nature like that.

MB: What is your next book?

SD: At the moment, I am working on the illustrations for a collection of fairy tales (most of them by the Grimm brothers), and on black and white illustrations for a chapter book about a little girl and her granny. This will keep me busy for while. After that, I’ll illustrate once more a story I have written. I do hope the one or the other of them is going to make its way to Canada.

My thanks to Sanne for this wonderful interview. We welcome you and your beautiful books to Canada. – Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-author-susan-verde2017-11-20T16:53:00-08:002017-11-20T17:04:33-08:00MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SUSAN VERDEPatricia Oldroyd
Susan Verde is the author of I Am Yoga and I Am Peace, feature books in our October boxes. She lives in East Hampton, New York with her 3 children and a dog named Gizmo. In addition to being an award-winning author, Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness to children and is a frequent contributor to online yoga magazines.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You are a wonderful storyteller and I love how you can really tap into the mind of a child. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Susan Verde is the author of I Am Yogaand I Am Peace, feature books in our October boxes. She lives in East Hampton, New York with her 3 children and a dog named Gizmo. In addition to being an award-winning author, Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness to children and is a frequent contributor to online yoga magazines.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): You are a wonderful storyteller and I love how you can really tap into the mind of a child. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

SUSAN VERDE (SD): Thank you so much for the compliment! I think I have always known I wanted to be writer. I wrote poems and stories as early as I can remember and continued all though college. I always loved picture books and knew that was my favorite genre when I became an elementary school teacher. I didn’t know I would become a published author but I knew how writing made me feel and filled my soul.

MB: Your collaboration with illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is brilliant. Normally, authors write and it is the publisher that matches the stories up with an illustrator. That wasn't the case with you and Peter. How did your partnership happen?

SV: Yes, Peter and I had an unusual beginning. I was taking a class he was teaching at the Southampton Children’s Literature Conference and I was a huge fan! One of the perks of taking his workshop was being able to show him my writing. Peter came across my poem The Museum and said, “this is a book and I want to illustrate it!” Of course I said YES!! And from there we spent the next few months creating a dummy and sent it off to his agent (who became my agent) and the rest is history. Our publisher asked us to write more together but we had already begun collaborating on many projects. It is pure joy writing for Peter!

MB: You were an elementary school teacher with a Master's in Reading Remediation. What advice do you give parents when their children are struggling to learn to read?

SV: My advice is always to pick books that interest your child. Don’t worry about difficulty level or whether it’s a comic or a novel. If your child has a passion start there. When he/she feels engaged and valued it is more likely he will take a chance with more advanced reading in the long run. Let them see success and take the pressure off of both of you. Also, if you feel there is an issue than reach out for help. There is no stigma. Let that go and just find the support you need.

MB: When did you begin your yoga journey and at what point did you start teaching children?

SV: I have been practicing yoga on and off since college. At various stressful points in my life I turned to my practice to get me through. After my own children were over 3 I decided I wanted to work with kids again but not full time in the classroom. I wanted to make a difference and help them cope with the stresses I knew they experienced. Because my practice helped me so much I thought it would be a wonderful tool for children so I began teaching kid’s and am always learning and studying more effective ways to bring them the practice of yoga and mindfulness.

MB: I personally started practicing yoga about eight years ago and am surprised and amazed at what I come away with every time I unroll my mat. Your books I am Peaceand I am Yoga have really got me thinking about the benefits to children learning yoga and mindfulness at an early age. Our world might be a very different place. What are your feelings about this?

SV: I often say that I wish I had these practices when I was a child. If I had known how to manage my emotions and treat myself with kindness it would have made such a difference. When we can reach children we can effect the world in a positive way. Imagine if we all knew how to be compassionate and empathetic and love ourselves. What a place this world has the potential to be. Kids are our best hope.

My thanks to Susan for this interview. Her writing and teaching to children is such an inspiration. – Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-dean-griffiths2017-10-25T12:12:00-07:002017-10-25T12:13:35-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH DEAN GRIFFITHSPatricia Oldroyd
Dean Griffiths is the illustrator of Best Pirate, the feature book in our September Picture Book Box. This is the third book in the series about Augusta the (dog) pirate. The series has received the Rainforest of Reading Award, a Kirkus Review star (both for Bad Pirate) and a glowing New York Times review (for Good Pirate). Dean is from Duncan, British Columbia.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?

Dean Griffiths is the illustrator of Best Pirate, the feature book in our September Picture Book Box. This is the third book in the series about Augusta the (dog) pirate. The series has received the Rainforest of Reading Award, a Kirkus Review star (both for Bad Pirate) and a glowing New York Times review (for Good Pirate). Dean is from Duncan, British Columbia.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?

DEAN GRIFFITHS (DG): I've always loved drawing, but it wasn't until I was 12 and bought a copy of Iron Man #135, where he battles the Titanium Man across New York until they end up at Rockefeller Plaza on the ice rink. I still remember sitting on the chesterfield at my grandparents’ home in Moose Jaw, and being totally absorbed in it. It was like watching a movie, and there was a scene where they are in the subway where I told myself that drawing stories is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It's interesting how crappy stuff can inspire us (not that Iron Man #135 is garbage, but it's a far cry from Wind in the Willows, or Lord of the Rings).

MB: You are a very talented award-winning illustrator but I understand you struggled in school. Any advice for kids who are having a tough time themselves?

DG: I did struggle in school, especially in the area of math. I just could never get my head around numbers. If you're struggling in school, try not to stress about it, and know that you have talents and interests that you can trust in. No one is brilliant at everything, and that is a good thing. If you have a difficult time at math, or struggle with science, don't let it frustrate you, and don't think there is anything wrong with that struggle, if you are working as best you can. At some point you will realize what you love to do, and you'll see the gift you have there, and that is what you are meant to do.

MB: Your animals have such great expressions and human qualities. They are so consistent from page to page and every angle. How do you do it?

DG: Thank you! It's a lot of practice. Drawing, drawing, and more drawing. I still have struggles to get a character to fit into their environment, but I love that challenge. After I have decided on a scene, it may take pages and pages of sketches to get the character looking properly. For example, with Augusta, I studied hundreds of photographs of Springer Spaniels, from all possible angles, and did hundreds of sketches of her. And it wasn't until the third book, that I felt I was really starting to get a handle on her. There are still some angles that I have a hard time with, and to get it done right takes a lot of drawing, and sometimes there just isn't the time due to deadlines, which is a shame, but such is life.

MB: You used a different process to create the artwork for the Pirate series. Can you describe it?

DG: "Bad Pirate" was my dive into digital colouring. A few years before, I bought a Wacom Cintiq tablet, computer and Photoshop software, and with the aid of a good friend of mine, and my art director, I learned on the job. The process is simple, I still draw on paper, and then I scan those drawings at a high resolution and place them into a "canvas" in Photoshop. As an example, I just finished a poster illustration for Chemainus Theatre for their production of The Little Prince. The image size they wanted was 13" X 19". So I created that size, and placed the scanned drawing onto it as a layer. That drawing layer will stay at the top, which is set to "multiply" mode. In multiply mode, all the other layers of colour that I place will be seen underneath. In that illustration, the star field is the bottom layer, then some of the gaseous formations above that, then the bright starts, then Asteroid b612, then his boots, etc, etc. There are many videos of the process online, and most much better than I could ever do. Photoshop has all sorts of brushes so that you can make your painting look like chunky pastel, thick, rich oils, or even light, fluid watercolour. The possibilities are endless!

MB: The illustrations for the Pirate series are so detailed and fun. You must have had a ball creating them. What kind of research did you do?

DG: Thank you, oh it was so fun (except when I had to work all night)! I've always loved history (one of the few subjects I was able to do well in at school. eh, heh, heh), so getting to research pirates, and all the different ships and clothing and weapons of that time was a joy. I have a copy of The Ship: An Illustrated History, by Bjorn Landstrom which he produced in the mid sixties, and it is one of my absolute, all-time favourite books. It's fun to get all the rigging right in portraying the vessels. I love adding the little details like the ornamentation on their belt buckles, or the hilt of their swords, that is way too fun.

MB: Of all the characters you have created, which one was your favourite?

DG: That is hard, but I guess, it would be Augusta. I love her like crazy. She's a sort of quiet, in-the-background kind of character, but she has a wonderful strength and resourcefulness, and is very loving and caring towards her family and crewmates. Plus, she is a joy to draw!

My thanks to Dean for this interview and for the opportunity to get to know more about him and his work. I’m a huge fan.

*The first book in this series, Bad Pirate is included in our Pirate Box. You will find this box located on the Special Boxes page of our website.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-kari-lynn-winters2017-10-15T11:12:00-07:002017-10-15T11:12:08-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH KARI-LYNN WINTERSPatricia Oldroyd
Kari-Lynn Winters is the author of Best Pirate, the feature book in our September Picture Book Box. This is the third book in the series about Augusta the (dog) pirate. The series has received the Rainforest of Reading Award, a Kirkus Review star (both for Bad Pirate) and a glowing New York Times review (for Good Pirate). Kari-Lynn is from St. Catharines, Ontario.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Did you have anyone to inspire and encourage you?

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Kari-Lynn Winters is the author of Best Pirate, the feature book in our September Picture Book Box. This is the third book in the series about Augusta the (dog) pirate. The series has received the Rainforest of Reading Award, a Kirkus Review star (both for Bad Pirate) and a glowing New York Times review (for Good Pirate). Kari-Lynn is from St. Catharines, Ontario.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Did you have anyone to inspire and encourage you?

KARI-LYNN WINTERS (KLW):I came to know that I wanted to be a writer (late to the game) when I was 30 years old. I was inspired by a creative writing course at UBC (University of British Columbia), and especially by my professors, Alison Acheson, Judith Saltman, and Theresa Rogers, as well as by my writing groups.

MB: You are a mother, playwright, poet, school presenter, associate professor at Brock University (have I left anything out?!) not to mention the author of twenty-five books published over the past 10 years. How on earth do you manage to do it all?!

KLW: My passion is writing and performing. My purpose is to share literacy strategies and write engaging stories for children. Both my passion and my purpose lead a pathway to my goal—to continue presenting to children and to make a positive difference in the world. Thus, to state it plainly, I CAN’T NOT write, perform, and teach. Aside from my family and loved ones, literacy is the most important aspect of my life.

MB: You also enjoy travelling. What was your favourite trip and why?

KLW: I love traveling to the Caribbean, because this exotic place relates to (and even looks like Dean’s illustrations in) the pirate books. My favourite trip was to St. Lucia for the Rainforest of Reading Festival. Here, 8,000 students came out—many of them dressed like pirates. What an ARR-some event!

MB: How old are your children? What do they think about having an award-winning author for a mom?

KLW: My son is 17. My daughter is 12. Although they get tired of me asking them to listen and re-listen to my stories (draft copies), I think that they are secretly proud of their mom. At one point, my daughter wanted to be an author—Just like me!

MB: Teachers have raved about your entertaining school presentations. Do you have a fun story about a memorable school visit?

KLW: Teachers are notorious for volunteering their teacher friends during my performances. I always try to choose the nominator, not the nominee. Then everyone laughs, including the nominator him/herself.

MB: I’ve been a big fan of your pirate series – Bad Pirate, Good Pirate and now Best Pirate. Each book is full of fabulous pirate lingo and explores three characteristics of being a successful pirate. Can you tell us a bit about your process to create the books? It must have been great fun.

KLW: It is great fun! Partially because I love the characters and partially because I love working with Dean (illustrator Dean Griffiths) and the people at Pajama Press. My process is different with every single book. Some ideas come to me quickly. Others take longer. Once the story is drafted and I am happy with it, I send it to my incredible editor Ann Featherstone. What a talent she is! Alongside, Gail Winskill (another incredible talent), these two women make edits and recommendations for the manuscript. I use their suggestions to strengthen the story, to pose questions, and to better understand a reader’s perspective. Then, when I am happy with the changes that I’ve made, I send the edited manuscript back to them.When approved, the story and the illustrations are put together by Rebecca Bender (yet another incredible talent). It’s a cooperative process, but I rarely talk to Dean Griffiths (the illustrator) until after the book is published. This is because many publishers like to let each creative person (author and illustrator) have their own creative vision. I absolutely adore Dean’s work!

My thanks to Kari-Lynn for this interview. It has been a pleasure to get to know more about this very talented woman and her passion for children’s literacy.

The first book in this series, Bad Pirate is included in our Pirate Box. You will find this box located on the Special Boxes page of our website.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-aura-parker2017-09-07T16:58:00-07:002017-09-07T17:32:16-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH AURA PARKERPatricia Oldroyd
Aura Parker is from Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her three children. Her background is in graphic design and illustration.Twigis her first book as both an author and illustrator. An absolutely charming book about a stick bug named Heidi’s first day at Bug School. Unfortunately she blends in so well that no one sees her. Many subjects are touched upon in this book including first day of school anxiety, making friends and overcoming shyness. The illustrations are so charming and detailed; children will find something new every time they open the book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be an author and an illustrator? Which came first?

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Aura Parker is from Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her three children. Her background is in graphic design and illustration. Twig is her first book as both an author and illustrator. An absolutely charming book about a stick bug named Heidi’s first day at Bug School. Unfortunately she blends in so well that no one sees her. Many subjects are touched upon in this book including first day of school anxiety, making friends and overcoming shyness. The illustrations are so charming and detailed; children will find something new every time they open this gorgeous book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be an author and an illustrator? Which came first?

AURA PARKER (AP): I always wanted to make kids books because I love stories. If you consume a diet of stories, as I did from a young age you will find they multiply, and before you know it they are growing out your ears! They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I always felt like I had a thousand pictures, and that means a lot of words to go with all the pictures! The art came first as I pursued a career in design and illustration, but I have equal love for both writing and drawing – and when they are combined I get completely carried away! From a young age I kept journals. When I was a teenager I did a lot of babysitting where I would tell the kids silly bedtime stories, making them up on the spot. I drew constantly as a kid and I just never stopped.

MB: Can you tell us a bit about the creation of Twig, from inspiration to publication?

AP: I wrote Twig in a big flurry of excitement and it draws on many threads of ideas knitted together, my surroundings, my kids, personal memories, and at the same time it is completely made up too. Twig is about Heidi the stick insect on her first day at Bug School and I wrote it when my son Saxon was about to start Kindy, a big transition where you have to negotiate many new things at once, fitting in, making friends. Entering the world of the schoolyard is new and exciting, but not without its own anxieties. When I was a kid I started a new school and I got off on the wrong foot on my first day. It stayed with me, that feeling, the feeling of wanting to belong that is at the heart of this story. Since the book came out lots of exciting things have happened and I have been out and about talking to kids about writing, illustration and creative confidence – I even have pet stick insects that come along with me.

MB: Did you spend time researching bugs for Twig? What was the most interesting thing you discovered?

AP: Stick insects have wings! Yes, they can fly! Not far, likely just far enough to get out of danger. And their wings are beautiful, like a butterfly. I do look at pictures of real insects for my illustrations, but more often I'll draw from my imagination. Bug School is an imaginary place, my insects walk, talk, drink tea and go to school – so much fun!

MB: What are the ages of your children? What do they think about having a Mom who is an author/illustrator?

AP: I have three kids aged 7, 9 and 11. They are proud of me and Twig is dedicated to my youngest son Saxon. ‘For Saxon, whose curiosity and love of insects inspired this book’. I am lucky to have them to bounce ideas off and we have lots of creative adventures together, building, making and inventing things.

MB: What would you like parents to share with their children when they read them this book?

AP: Books are a good catalyst for talking about feelings. There are a lot of ideas in Twig from friendship to belonging and inclusion. My advice is to enjoy your books for the sake of the story, snuggle up and let them simmer! See what comes, listen to your kids. I love it when you read a book and then find yourself thinking about it later, and I hope that is what happens with Twig.

MB: Have you ever been to Canada?

AP: We took a trip to Canada last year with my kids as we have family living over there. We visited Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec in September when the leaves were about to turn for fall. The green colour of the trees is refreshing, so different to Australia. In Toronto we went to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) and the Aquarium and drank up the art galleries with our eyes! We went to Pink Lake and marveled at the colour of the water too. Canada is beautiful and I would love to visit again as we came back with heads and hearts full of wonderful memories.

AP: Thank you for having me on the blog. I was going to write something funny about marmalade, but I got into a jam! Ha! Aura xx

My thanks to Aura for this interview. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering her beautiful work and getting to know a little bit about her. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-ashley-spires2017-08-03T14:28:00-07:002017-08-03T14:30:59-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH ASHLEY SPIRESPatricia Oldroyd
Ashley Spires is the author of The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, a charming story of friendship, courage and overcoming your fears. It is the feature book in our July 2017 Picture Book Box. Ashley is from our neck of the woods - Ladner, B.C., Canada. It’s petty impressive what Ashley has accomplished in the six years since her first book, Small Saul was published. Four picture books, five graphic novels (Binky the Space Cat series), a long list of awards and honours, plus a number of books she has illustrated for other authors.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): Do you ever have more than one book idea in your head at time?

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Ashley Spires is the author of The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, a charming story of friendship, courage and overcoming your fears. It is the feature book in our July 2017 Picture Book Box. Ashley is from our corner of the world - Ladner, B.C., Canada. It’s petty impressive what Ashley has accomplished in the six years since her first book, Small Saul was published. Four picture books, five graphic novels (Binky the Space Cat series), a long list of awards and honours, plus a number of books she has illustrated for other authors.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): Do you ever have more than one book idea in your head at time?

Ashley Spires (AS): Always! For the past few years I'm always working on 2-3 books at a time though they are usually at different stages. I'll be writing the first draft for one while I'm roughing out the illustrations for another and then finishing up final art on the third. I try to pace myself, but it all inevitably bottlenecks and I don't sleep for a month!

MB: As an author/illustrator, do the pictures or the story come to you first?

AS: It really depends on the story. With Small Saul it all started with a doodle, but with The Most Magnificent Thing it started with my own feelings of frustration. I think half my books start with a picture and half with a story idea.

MB: You’ve written and illustrated picture, graphic and non-fiction books for kids. Are there any other types of books you would be interested in creating?

AS: I'd love to try a middle grade illustrated chapter book. I've illustrated one for another author, but I've never tried to write one myself. You can do so much with humour in that format!

MB: Your books are very encouraging and inspirational to kids. Did you have a teacher or someone else that inspired you as a child?

AS: The mother of one of my closest friends was a children's librarian. She is the one who introduced me to Roald Dahl and Barbara Reid to name a few. Even when I was too old for picture books she would share books with amazing illustrations in them to inspire my artwork. I think she knew I should be making books long before I did!

MB: You grew up with pets and your parents owned a pet food store in Tsawwassen, B.C. You’ve described yourself as a “crazy cat lady.” I’ve been seeing many pictures recently of some adorable kittens on your Instagram account. What is your current cat count? What is the most number of pets that you have had a one time? (No judgement, I'm animal crazy myself!)

AS: Well growing up we definitely had a lot of pets. People used to dump their cats around my Dad's business and he brought everyone home. Most of my childhood we had at least 8 cats and a dog. Nowadays I have three cats and a dog, though I do like to foster orphaned kittens for my local shelter. I have had seven cats and dog in my house for the last five weeks but my foster kittens all went to their forever homes yesterday. And I'm already itching for the next litter...

My thanks to Ashley for this interview and giving us a glimpse into her amazing world. Pat Oldroyd

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/my-interview-with-kyo-maclear2017-07-12T17:52:00-07:002017-07-12T18:03:08-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH KYO MACLEARPatricia Oldroyd
Kyo Maclear is the author of Spork, the feature book in our June 2017 Picture Book Box. New in paperback, Spork won numerous awards when it was published in 2010. A glimpse into the life of a spork – not a fork, not a spoon. Never chosen to be at the table, just where does he fit in? Spork is a clever story about tolerance and individuality. Kyo lives in Toronto and is the mother of two sons and two cats.

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Kyo Maclear is the author of Spork, the feature book in our June 2017 Picture Book Box. New in paperback, Spork won numerous awards when it was published in 2010. A glimpse into the life of a spork – not a fork, not a spoon. Never chosen to be at the table, just where does he fit in? Spork is a clever story about tolerance and individuality. Kyo lives in Toronto, Ontario and is the mother of two sons and two cats.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Kyo Maclear (KM): I had my first inkling at age eighteen. I was studying fine art at university and a beloved prof (video artist Colin Campbell) encouraged me to start writing art essays for publication in magazines. I loved writing alongside images. I felt a responsibility to chose words that would honor and amplify the work. It was fun. And a puzzle. It made my brain happy.

MB: I love the idea of relating a spork to your own experience growing up in a mixed race family. Have you always thought of yourself as a spork or did the idea come to you while you were writing the book?

KM: Well my mum is Japanese and my dad is white-British so I definitely saw myself as a cultural hybrid growing up. Occasionally it was painful (with moments of feeling like a misfit) but mostly I liked being in that spork space between languages, cultures, and countries. I think it made me see the world in less binary ways. So those feelings definitely motivated and motored the writing of the book. At the same time, I wanted to create a story for my kids, who are very mixed, and for anyone who has ever felt they don't quite fit in.

MB: What would you like parents to share with their kids when they read the book to them?

KM: Hmmm. I don't know. Be open to the unknown? Embrace multicutlery? Avoid slots? Welcome your own uncategorizable spirit?

MB: What do your sons think about having a Mom who's a writer?

KM: They've never known anything else so it's just run-of-the-mill to them. Occasionally they'll weigh in with an opinion. They have great narrative instincts. P.s. I just conferred with my younger son who tells me: "I think it's cool to see how the books get made, seeing the sketches and the proofs and then the final book. It's like magic."

My thanks to Kyo for this interview. I enjoyed getting to know her a little better and understanding what it's like to be a spork in Canada.

* If you wish to purchase the June Picture Book Box which includes Spork, we have a few left on our Shop Now Past Boxes page.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/whats-in-the-box-june-2017-picture2017-07-11T14:02:00-07:002017-07-11T14:09:01-07:00WHAT'S IN THE BOX: JUNE 2017 PICTUREPatricia OldroydHappy Canada Day! In honour of Canada's 150th birthday we have two books, I Am Canada and Spork, celebrating the beauty, freedom, hope and diversity of our country.

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Happy Canada Day! In honour of Canada's 150th birthday we have two books, I Am Canadaand Spork, celebrating the beauty, freedom, hope and diversity of our country.

I Am Canada by Heather Patterson, was originally published in 1996. Heather's free verse poem has been given new life in this special edition for Canada's 150th birthday with artwork by thirteen of Canada's finest illustrators. This project by Scholastic Canada was not just to celebrate Canada's birthday but also Scholastic's 60th Anniversary. It's the perfect book to commemorate this special year. Each illustrator has a double page spread to interpret a few lines of the poem. The book showcases from a child's view, everything good about our country. From the freedom to run, swim, toboggan, read, learn and dream to our seasons, cultural diversity and beautiful geography. At the end of the book, both author and illustrators talk about what Canada means to them. The illustrators are (as well as just a fraction of their work): Jeremy Tankard (Grumpy Bird), Ruth Ohi (Fox and Squirrel), Barbara Reid (plasticine artist, Zoe's Year), Jon Klassen (I Want My Hat Back), Marie-Louise Gay (Stella), Danielle Daniel (Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox), Ashley Spires (Binky, The Most Magnificent Thing), Genevieve Cote (Without You), Cale Atkinson (To the Sea), Doretta Goenendyk (A Harbour Seal in Halifax), Qin Leng (A Family is a Family is a Family), Eva Campbell (The Matatu), and Irene Luxbacher (The Imaginary Gardener).

Spork by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. A spork is a cross between a spoon and a fork and this book was a perfect way for Kyo (who has a British father and a Japanese mother) to explain to her sons what it's like to grow up in a multiracial family. A great opportunity to start discussions about individuality, tolerance and finding your place in the world. Originally published in 2010 and now finally in paperback, it was Kyo's debut children's book. It won numerous awards including the 2010 IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Isabelle's work has achieved international recognition and won the Governor General's Award for Childrens Literature an amazing three times. As well, two of her picture books were named as New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year. For Spork, she used mixed media (pencil, colour pencils, collage, gouache) and assembled digitally. The idea was to reflect the hybridity of Spork through the usage of different mediums and techniques. I loved Isabelle's retro looking illustrations which were inspired by vintage kitchen references and a typical colour palette from the 50's. This box includes a letter from Kyo to our readers.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/an-interview-with-kelly-collier2017-06-17T11:17:00-07:002018-10-12T17:20:23-07:00MY INTERVIEW WITH KELLY COLLIERPatricia Oldroyd
﻿Kelly Collier is the author and illustrator of A Horse Named Steve, the feature book in our May 2017 Picture Book Box (and Team Steve, the feature book in our September 2018 Picture Book Box). You can’t help but fall in love with Steve, a fine horse who thinks he could be finer. A great read aloud with charming illustrations, this book provides a fun way to bring up the subject of self-esteem and acceptance. Kelly is from Toronto, Ontario and this is her first book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be a writer and an illustrator?Which came first?

KELLY COLLIER (KC): I knew I wanted to be an artist of some kind ever since I was little. I loved drawing and my parents encouraged me and my siblings to draw. I was in high school when I started thinking about drawing as a career. After high school I applied and was accepted to Sheridan College's illustration program and that was where I fell in love with children's books.

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Kelly Collier is the author and illustrator of A Horse Named Steve, the feature book in our May 2017 Picture Book Box (and Team Steve, the feature book in our September 2018 Picture Book Box). You can’t help but fall in love with Steve, a fine horse who thinks he could be finer. A great read aloud with charming illustrations, this book provides a fun way to bring up the subject of self-esteem and acceptance. Kelly is from Toronto, Ontario and this is her first book.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): When did you know you wanted to be a writer and an illustrator?Which came first?

KELLY COLLIER (KC): I knew I wanted to be an artist of some kind ever since I was little. I loved drawing and my parents encouraged me and my siblings to draw. I was in high school when I started thinking about drawing as a career. After high school I applied and was accepted to Sheridan College's illustration program and that was where I fell in love with children's books. After graduating I managed to get freelance work illustrating for newspapers and magazines but never managed to get work illustrating picture books. I really never intended to write, I find writing really challenging. I only started because I would get an idea for an image and I really wanted to put text in it and so I would make up stories to go with the illustration.

MB: Was this the first book that you submitted?

KC: No, not the first but this was the first book I had submitted in a REALLY long time. I found myself a few years out of art school feeling discouraged and behind on bills. I was working as a server in a restaurant to make ends meet and I guess I started working at the restaurant more and more and pursuing illustration less and less. I managed to let about 10 years slip by without illustrating a single thing professionally. I was actually looking to go back to school when my sister saw a doodle I had done of Steve and said she thought he would make a great character for a children's book. I remember rolling my eyes, thinking that my dreams of illustrating were long gone. But after thinking about it I thought maybe there was a story to go along with this funny looking horse and it wasn't like I had much to lose. So I submitted it to Kids Can Press and the rest is history.

MB: What was your inspiration for the book?

KC: I think Steve came from a few different places. I had a dog at the time that inspired his goofy look and personality. My brother also has a great sense of humor and I drew from that as well.

MB: What would you like parents to share with their kids when they read them the book?​

KC: I think there are a few lessons parents and teachers can pull from this story. I think there is a lot of pressure for kids in today's world with social media to "out shine" each other. I think it's important for kids to grow up appreciating their authentic self. They are exceptional for being who they are without the "likes, tweets, and snap-chat filters"

My thanks to Kelly for this interview and for the chance to get to know her and Steve a little bit better. Pat Oldroyd

* if you wish to purchase the May Picture Book Box which includes A Horse Named Steve, we have a few left on our Shop Now Past Boxes page or the September 2018 Picture Book Box containing Team Steve ﻿is available here.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-may-2017-picture2017-06-16T18:54:00-07:002017-06-16T18:56:51-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: MAY 2017 PICTUREPatricia Oldroyd
Our first book this month, A Nest Is Noisy is a beautifully illustrated non-fiction book. The second book is A Horse Named Steve, a brand new zany hardcover.
A Nest is NoisyDianna Hutts Aston and illustrator Sylvia Long have created six absolutely beautiful nonfiction books for children exploring seeds, eggs, butterflies, rocks, beetles and now nests.

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Our first book this month, A Nest Is Noisy is a beautifully illustrated non-fiction book. The second book is A Horse Named Steve, a brand new zany hardcover.

A Nest is Noisy Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrator Sylvia Long have created six absolutely beautiful nonfiction books for children exploring seeds, eggs, butterflies, rocks, beetles and now nests. New in paperback, this book is full of facts and gorgeous illustrations that will interest readers at a variety of different ages. A simple poetic text through the book works for younger readers while there is much more for those who crave detailed information. Many creatures have nests including birds, alligators, frogs, sea turtles and the platypus. Lots to learn for adults too!

A Horse Named Steve by Kelly Collier from Toronto, Ontario. Kelly has hit a home run with her very first children’s book. You can’t help but fall in love with Steve, a horse who thinks he’s pretty fine. But he wants to be exceptional and he thinks he has achieved that the day he finds a gold horn, which he attaches to his head. He runs off to show his new horn to all his friends. He encourages his friends to find a horn too because they are looking kind of ordinary. Kelly has been drawing since she was a little girl and has a twin sister. She also has a dog that resembles Steve. Included in this box is an exclusive letter from Kelly to our readers. Stay tuned for our next blog, an interview I did with Kelly!

As an added bonus we included a sticker activity book with horses and other cute animals.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-may-2017-baby2017-06-16T18:48:00-07:002017-06-16T18:48:07-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: MAY 2017 BABYPatricia Oldroyd
This month’s box contains three fun new board books. Just Like Papa, Pirates in Pajamas and Under the Sea.

Under the Sea Kate Riggs is a Minnesota based writer of non-fiction books for children and young adults. Her board books are a wonderful way to introduce little ones to the creatures of our world. Perfect for this age group, Under the Sea visits the homes of fish, crabs, an octopus, sea turtle and a whale that practically jumps off the page. Tom Leonard is an illustrator from Philadelphia where he lives with his wife Rose and their cat Maroef.

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This month’s box contains three fun new board books. Just Like Papa, Pirates in Pajamas and Under the Sea.

Under the Sea Kate Riggs is a Minnesota based writer of non-fiction books for children and young adults. Her board books are a wonderful way to introduce little ones to the creatures of our world. Perfect for this age group, Under the Sea visits the homes of fish, crabs, an octopus, sea turtle and a whale that practically jumps off the page. Tom Leonard is an illustrator from Philadelphia where he lives with his wife Rose and their cat Maroef.

Pirates in Pajamas Caroline Crowe was a newspaper journalist before turning to writing picture books. She is from Hampshire, England where she lives with her husband and 3 young songs. Tom Knight is a wonderful illustrator from Colchester, England. He has two sons. A perfect team to create a fun rhyming book about pirates! These pirates turn out to be pretty tame with their funny pajamas, teddy bears, pajama parties and pillow fights!

Just Like My Papa by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Reminiscent of The Lion King, Kito the lion cub wants to be just like his father. Papa roars and the savanna falls silent. Kito growls and the hyena laughs. Papa swings his long tail and sweeps away the flies. Kito swings his little golden tail but the flies keep buzzing around him. But someday he will be King, just like his papa. Both Toni and Mike are busy in the children’s book world having each published over 20 books. Toni is a former librarian who divides her time between Sarasota, Florida and Buxton, Maine. Mike is from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-april-2017-middle-grade-novel2017-06-16T18:27:00-07:002017-06-16T18:33:16-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: APRIL 2017 MIDDLE GRADE NOVELPatricia Oldroyd
Our two middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month were about the special relationship between a child and an animal. Storm Horse, about a boy who saves a horse after a shipwreck and One Dog and His Boy, about a boy who will do anything to keep his dog.

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Our two middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month were about the special relationship between a child and an animal. Storm Horse, about a boy who saves a horse after a shipwreck and One Dog and His Boy, about a boy who will do anything to keep his dog.

Storm Horse by Nick Garlick. Flip is a twelve-year-old boy who finds himself an orphan and off to live on a remote Dutch island with an uncle who doesn’t trust him. His new life of living and working on a farm is a far cry from his home in Amsterdam. Although he appreciates being taken in, the work is hard and he is lonely. His only friends are his cousin and a mysterious Ghost Girl who doesn’t speak. He also has to deal with three brothers who bully him. One day a ship is sinking off shore and Flip sees a horse drowning in the waves. Even though he knows nothing about horses, he risks his life to save the horse. He calls the horse Storm and the two quickly bond. But the farm is struggling and unless Flip can quickly train the horse to work on the farm, he will have to give Storm up. Storm isn’t easy to train but it gives Flip something to focus on. An exciting adventure that was difficult to put down. Nick is from Utrecht, Netherlands where he lives with his wife and a vegetable-eating cat! This is his third children’s book. Also included in this box is an exclusive letter from Nick to our readers.

One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson. Hal has always wanted a dog, in fact he has asked for a dog for every birthday and Christmas. His wealthy parents just don’t want an animal in their clean, perfect house. His 10th birthday arrives and the closest Hal gets to having a dog is a man dressed in a dog suit, arranged by his mother. Hal gets very depressed and finally his parents give in. Hal picks Fleck from the Easy Pets store, but his parents fail to tell him that they have only rented the dog for the weekend. Returning from school on Monday and finding Fleck gone, Hal devises a plan to get Fleck back and run away to his grandparent’s home. Of course things don’t go as planned. Eva is one of my favourite authors. She was born in Vienna but moved to England in 1934 to escape the Nazi regime. Eva passed away in 2010. One Dog and His Boy was her last book after a long career of writing outstanding books which won many awards. A truly wonderful storyteller who is greatly missed.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-april-2017-picture2017-06-16T13:31:00-07:002017-06-16T13:32:39-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: APRIL 2017 PICTUREPatricia Oldroyd
We have two wonderfully illustrated picture books for our readers this month. Epossumondas, an old favourite finally published in paperback and Happy Dreamer, a new book from genius Peter H. Reynolds.

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We have two wonderfully illustrated picture books for our readers this month. Epossumondas, an old favourite finally published in paperback and Happy Dreamer, a new book from genius Peter H. Reynolds.

Epossumondas by Coleen Salley from New Orleans and illustrated by Janet Stevens from Boulder, Colorado. Originally published in 2002, this southern tale has finally been published in paperback. Epossumondas is a possum, adored by his mama and auntie, their sweet little patootie. Always trying to please them, Epossumondas takes his mama’s instructions way too literally when delivering items back and forth between the two ladies. Something always goes wrong. He tries to do better but it never seems to work out. A great read aloud, little ones will soon predict what outrageous thing will happen next. Included at the back of the book there is a great storyteller’s note which explains that “Epossumondas is a type of tale called a noodlehead story. Mishaps occur but are not caused deliberately. The humor is gentle and silly. The plot may be highly improbable, but not impossible – it COULD happen.” A well respected storyteller, Coleen passed away in 2008. She was often quoted as saying "I don't want children to read just to perfect their reading. I want them to love books for the joy of it." Janet is a popular and award winning illustrator who used her friend Coleen as the inspiration for this delightful book.

Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds from Dedham, Massachusetts. What a wonderful book celebrating a child’s creative dreams. Peter’s goal with this book was for the reader to be positive, happy, to dream big and be proud of the way their brain works. Whether you’re a quiet dreamer, a loud dreamer or a colorful dreamer, it all good! Absolutely chock-a-block full of whimsical illustrations expressing every kind of dreamer and ending with the question “What kind of dreamer are you?” And to help with that, our box includes a poster of dreamers and a colouring sheet and crayons for our readers to get creative. Peter is a well-loved, best-selling author and illustrator who has received many awards and honors for his books. He was born in Canada and along with his twin brother, owns a children’s bookstore.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-april-2017-baby2017-06-16T12:01:00-07:002017-06-16T12:01:49-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: APRIL 2017 BABYPatricia Oldroyd
Tigers, bears and bunnies oh my, are just some of the adorable creatures in this month’s baby books box.
One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner from Edinburgh, Scotland. The Daily Telegraph says that Catherine “has the marvellous gift for capturing the souls of animals in a few, rich washes of colour.”

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Tigers, bears and bunnies oh my, are just some of the adorable creatures in this month’s baby books box.

One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner from Edinburgh, Scotland. The Daily Telegraph says that Catherine “has the marvellous gift for capturing the souls of animals in a few, rich washes of colour.” This large and gorgeous counting book is a wonderful companion to her first book Augustus and His Smile, one of our all-time favourites. The story of Augustus the tiger starts as “One sad tiger sitting alone” but with each double spread he meets new friends. Two bright bugs, three colorful birds and so on until he becomes one happy tiger with ten little friends. I love counting books. They can be so interactive with your little one as together you count the items on each page. Before you know it, they will be counting everything!

More Than Balloons by Lorna Cozier from Vancouver Island, BC. Lorna is a writer, poet, teacher, an Officer of the Order of Canada and Governor General’s Award winner! Through this sweet rhyme, a mother rabbit tells how much she loves her baby. The book is whimsically illustrated by Rachelle Anne Miller, a mother of three from Ottawa, Ontario.

Alligator Bear Crab by Lesley Wynne Pechter. New to paperback, this ABC book is full of delightful animals with charming expressions done in soft pastel colours. There are some unexpected choices for each letter like H for hare, I for Iguana and K for koala, not to mention Y for you with a baby smiling and waving at the reader. I always thought these illustrations would make perfect decorations for a child’s bedroom. Lesley was born in England and now lives in our hometown of Victoria, B.C.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-march-2017-middle-grade-novel2017-06-07T15:31:00-07:002017-06-07T15:34:25-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: MARCH 2017 MIDDLE GRADE NOVELPatricia Oldroyd
We had two exciting middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month. Dominion is a new sci-fi series and The Sign of the Cat, a high seas adventure of bravery.
Dominion is Shane Arbuthnott’s debut novel. A fast-paced steam punk adventure that reminded me of Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn. Molly is a highly skilled engineer on her family’s airship; the Legerdemain, which sails in the skies above the New World, in the British Dominion of Terra Nova.

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We had two exciting middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month. Dominion is a new sci-fi series and The Sign of the Cat, a high seas adventure of bravery.

Dominion is Shane Arbuthnott’s debut novel. A fast-paced steam punk adventure that reminded me of Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn. Molly is a highly skilled engineer on her family’s airship; the Legerdemain, which sails in the skies above the New World, in the British Dominion of Terra Nova. Their business is to capture spirits which are used to power the airships. Molly isn’t supposed to speak to the spirits for fear of manipulation but she does and she begins to question everything that she has been raised to believe. Her quest to reveal the truth is dangerous and makes for a very exciting read. In this new world, it was refreshing to see that women are equals. In fact the reader will only assume that Molly is a girl by her name. Dominion’s sequel will be published next year. Shane Arbuthnott is a stay-at-home dad of three from Guelph, Ontario. He was kind enough to write our readers an exclusive letter, which is included in this month’s box.

The Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell is an adventurous, swashbuckling tale of courage, friendship and cats. Duncan has led a very sheltered life on the island of Dulle in the Kingdom of Arvidia. He has the unusual ability to speak cat because the old cat that lived in his house took the time to teach him when he was young. Duncan is a very smart boy but for some reason his mother doesn’t want him to do his best or draw attention to himself. He even has to wear a hat with earflaps that covers his dark red hair and he isn’t allowed to go down to the wharf when a new ship arrives from Capital City. And now at 11 years old, he is beginning to question everything. In addition to his own questions, the King of Arvidia is very ill, his daughter Princess Lydia is missing and kittens are disappearing. The well respected Earl of Merrick’s ship arrives at the wharf and Duncan is invited to come on board. The earl takes a shine to Duncan and offers him a position as a ship’s boy. He immediately turns him down knowing that his mother won’t like it. Before Duncan knows what’s happened, he is kidnapped and the ship sails away from Dulle. I loved this story of Duncan’s journey, discovering who he really is and his chance to become a hero. Lynn Jonell has written over 15 books for children and received a number of awards and honours. In addition to teaching writing, she is a mother of two boys and lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-march-2017-picture2017-06-05T15:51:00-07:002017-06-05T15:51:10-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: MARCH 2017 PICTUREPatricia Oldroyd
We have two fun and silly picture books this month that will make a great addition to your bookself.
You Can Readby Helaine Becker from Toronto, Ontario and illustrated by Mark Hoffmann from New England. This book is an imaginative tribute to reading and all the places you can read. For instance, “You can read in Tuktoyaktuk or in the south of France, You can read in your party clothes or in your underpants!”

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We have two fun and silly picture books this month that will make a great addition to your bookself.

You Can Read by Helaine Becker from Toronto, Ontario and illustrated by Mark Hoffmann from New England. This book is an imaginative tribute to reading and all the places you can read. For instance, “You can read in Tuktoyaktuk or in the south of France, You can read in your party clothes or in your underpants!” The kooky illustrations match very well to this cleaver rhyme. Why not ask your little one where they like to read and have them draw a picture of it. Helaine is an award-winning author of more than 70 books in many genres including non-fiction, picture books, novels, magazines and television. This is Mark’s first children’s book. In addition to being a wonderfully talented freelance editorial illustrator, he is a professor at an art school. Also included in this box is an exclusive letter from Helaine to our Marmalade readers.

The Night I Followed the Dog was Nina Laden’s first book and has been a favourite of our family since it was published in 1994. It was finally printed in paperback this month and we knew we had to get it to our readers right away. Curious to find out what his dog really does at night, a boy decides to follow him. Shocked to see his dog dressed in a tuxedo and getting into a limousine, the boy follows behind on his bike. The dog goes into a night club which it turns out the dog owns! The club is a special place where dogs can come after a hard day and relax and talk about their problems with the mailman or the poodle next door. Dogs can lie on the couch or get treats without rolling over or playing dead. This is a place where dogs can be dogs. I love the imaginative way that Nina has drawn pictures into the text. You could say that she was doing emojis in the 90’s! Not surprising, Nina won a number of awards for this book and has written and illustrated many books since, including the best-selling Peek-a-Who series. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-february-2017-middle-grade-novel2017-06-02T13:50:00-07:002017-06-02T13:53:26-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: FEBRUARY 2017 MIDDLE GRADE NOVELPatricia Oldroyd
We had two great adventure, middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month. Both authors were kind enough to write exclusive letters to our readers and these have been included in the box.

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We had two great adventure, middle grade novels for 8-12 year olds this month. Both authors were kind enough to write exclusive letters to our readers and these have been included in the box.

The Harlem Charade by Natash Tarpley. Jin lives with her grandparents and helps out at their corner store. She is looking for adventure when she meets Alex, a mysterious girl who secretly helps the needy. They agree to help Elvin, who has come to Harlem to live with his grandfather. But Elvin’s grandfather has been attacked and is unconscious in the hospital. Their questions about the attack lead them to a decades old mystery of missing art. The masterpieces are worth a fortune and could save their neighbourhood from a bull-dozing developer. This book is full of action and suspense and I enjoyed learning a bit about Harlem and its rich history. Natasha lives in Chicago, Illinois and is the author of a number of acclaimed books for adults and children. She is the co-founder of Voonderbar! Media, a multicultural children's book publishing and media company.

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart. I loved this beautiful story about a young boy named Joseph. Set in Washington State in the 1890’s, this poor boy has lost everything. All he has left is hope and his beloved horse named Sarah. But now she is gone too, sold by the horrible man who was supposed to look after him. Joseph sets off on a courageous journey to find Sarah and he’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. Recently published in paperback, this book has been nominated for the 2017 Notable Children’s Books List from The Association for Library Service to Children. Dan is a teacher-librarian in Washington State, USA.

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https://readmarmalade.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-the-box-february-2017-picture2017-05-24T18:21:00-07:002017-05-24T18:21:57-07:00WHAT’S IN THE BOX: FEBRUARY 2017 PICTUREPatricia Oldroyd
This month we were thrilled to feature two hardcovers in the Picture Book Box. Both these very talented author/illustrators are from Australia.
The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland. A charming story about a very friendly chicken named Popcorn. She insists on greeting all the animals every morning on the farm and does her best to brighten everyone’s day.

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This month we were thrilled to feature two hardcovers in the Picture Book Box. Both these very talented author/illustrators are from Australia.

The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland. A charming story about a very friendly chicken named Popcorn. She insists on greeting all the animals every morning on the farm and does her best to brighten everyone’s day. One morning she discovers a cell phone in the barn and low and behold she is able to say “hello” to all kinds of new friends. She spends so much time on her fabulous new friend machine that she begins to ignore her old friends. Popcorn decides it’s time to meet her fabulous new friends, but they don’t turn out to be so fabulous when she realizes they are wolves! This book tackles some important issues in an amusing way with lots of great extras in the wonderful illustrations. Nick claims to be colour blind and is a self-taught artist! He is the creator of the adorable Very Cranky Bear series. He lives in tropical Darwin, Australia, where he works as a guardian for 120 aboriginal boys who board nearby.

I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey. This story is such fun that if your kids are like my grandson, you will end up reading it several times in a row. I love Aaron’s animals with their big eyes full of expression and the clever rhyme easily brings on lots of giggles. All this poor porcupine wants is a hug, but all his friends take one look at his spikes and run in the other direction. Aaron was an actor and teacher before becoming an award-winning author/illustrator, best known for his Pig the Pug series (another favourite of mine) and the Bad Guys early chapter books. Aaron lives in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, with his wife and two sons.